Chapter 12

The morning sun crept over the Manhattan skyline, casting long, sharp shadows across the penthouse bedroom. It was 6:00 AM.

Julian’s flight to Dubai departed out of JFK at 9:30 AM.

Clara stood by the foot of the massive king-sized bed, surrounded by the open jaws of two expensive, ha

Chapter 13

The glass doors of Vance Architecture slid open with a soft, electronic whisper.

Clara Vance stepped onto the polished concrete floor of the firm she had built from the ground up, though her name was nowhere on the frosted glass walls. For five years, she had walked through these doors

Chapter 14

Julian Vance was sweating through his bespoke midnight-blue suit, and he couldn't blame the oppressive desert heat.

He stood in the opulent marble lobby of the Burj Al Arab, his jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ached. The concierge, a man in a pristine white uniform with gold epaulett