Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
She launches into an explanation of her latest designs, pausing only when the next course arrives—a small plate of perfectly seared scallops with winter citrus. Her enthusiasm is contagious. I find myself asking questions about the creative process, genuinely interested in how her mind works.
“You actually care about all this, don’t you?” she asks suddenly.
“Of course I do. Why do you sound surprised?”
“Most people’s eyes glaze over after about thirty seconds of jewelry talk. Even my family starts checking their phones when I get going.”
“I’m not most people.” I signal for more wine. “Besides, I like watching you talk about things you’re passionate about. You get this look in your eyes . . .”
“What look?”
“Like you’re seeing something no one else can see yet. It’s . . .” I search for the right word. “Compelling.”
A slight blush colors her cheeks. “Now you’re just trying to charm me.”
“Is it working?”
“Maybe.” She eyes the next course as it arrives—venison with roasted root vegetables. There’s a moment of hesitation before she speaks. “So . . . about earlier today . . .”
“When I walked in on what was clearly not a jewelry design meeting?”
“Did you hear . . . ?” She trails off, unable to finish the question.
“Just the sudden silence.” I take a sip of wine, watching her. “Though the looks on all three of your faces were quite telling.”
She pushes her food around her plate, clearly wrestling with something. “We were talking about you, actually.” Her voice is careful, measured. “About some things Hailey’s heard. About you and your ex-partner . . . Julian Voss.” She shifts in her seat. “And how he was married to Claire.”
I keep my expression neutral, though my grip tightens slightly on my wineglass. “And what exactly has Hailey heard?”
“That Julian . . .” She hesitates, then takes a long sip of wine. “That he’s involved in some pretty dark stuff. Underground crime rings. The kind of business deals that don’t end with lawyers but with . . .” She trails off, clearly uncomfortable with finishing that sentence.
“I see.” My voice gives nothing away.
“But I need to know, Cole. About Julian and Claire. About you.”
The question hangs in the air between us. I consider my next words carefully, watching the collar shift against her throat as she swallows. “Some questions are better left unasked, Sloane.”
“And some answers I need to hear.” Her voice is quiet but firm. “If we’re going to . . .” She gestures between us, at the romantic setup I’ve created, at everything unsaid.
I consider my wineglass for a moment. “Julian does business with bad people. Yes.” I watch her process this. “And no, I don’t. Though I’m sure there are plenty of rumors suggesting otherwise.”
Sloane remains quiet, but I can tell that she’s not satisfied with my answer. She needs more.
“I made choices I’m not proud of. When you’re young and ambitious, it’s easy to justify certain decisions. To tell yourself the end justifies the means.” I meet her gaze directly. “Until one day you realize you’ve become something you never meant to be.”
“What changed?”
“Power is seductive. The more you get, the more you want. And when you’re good at taking what you want . . .” I pause, choosing my words carefully. “Julian and I, we were very good at it. Every victory made the next one easier to justify. Every compromised deal made the next compromise smaller. You tell yourself it’s just business, just strategy. That fear is more efficient than trust.”
I take a slow sip of wine, feeling the weight of her gaze.
“Julian thrived on it. The more brutal the strategy, the more he enjoyed the execution. He started attracting attention from people who appreciated his methods. People who saw violence as a business tool.” My jaw tightens. “I was no better, for a while. Until I realized we weren’t climbing to the top anymore. We were sinking.”
“That’s why you ended the partnership?”
“I forced him out. Made it clear he had no choice. Then I redirected the company, cut ties with certain clients. Julian didn’t take it well. He thought I was betraying everything we’d built.” I watch her face carefully. “He wasn’t entirely wrong. I did betray his vision of what we could become. I just couldn’t be that person anymore.”
“And Claire? Was she part of all this?”
I feel my expression darken. “Claire was his wife, but she was never part of his methods. She was a brilliant jewelry designer who believed in ethical sourcing. When I discovered Julian was using blood diamonds and smuggled gems in some of the pieces, I felt she deserved to know.”
“So you told her,” Sloane says softly.
“I did. She was devastated. Planned to leave him, take her designs with her. She gave me her portfolio for safekeeping. The last collection she designed before . . .” I trail off, the memory still raw.