Page 109 of The Silver Fox Brother

"Thank you."

I nod. "I'll have Marcus contact you by this afternoon with options."

"Options?"

"We have several corporate apartments. Different neighborhoods, different layouts. You can choose the one that works best."

Winter's expression softens slightly.

"That's... very considerate."

"It's practical," I say, repeating my earlier statement. But we both know it's more than that.

I head toward the door, then stop with my hand on the handle. "Winter."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry. About Rowan."

She looks surprised that I said it. "Thank you. But I'm not."

There's something in her voice—relief, maybe, or liberation—that makes me want to ask more questions. I want to know what happened. I want to understand why she left. But I don't ask.

"The three-bedroom staging," I say instead.

"We can discuss it later. Take the morning to sort out the apartment situation."

"I can work and apartment hunt at the same time."

"I know you can. But you don't have to."

I leave before she can argue, closing the door behind me.

In the hallway, I pull out my phone and text Marcus.

Knox: Corporate apartment for Winter Hayes. Chelsea, Flatiron, Greenwich Village -check where we have availability. Send her some options by COB today.

Marcus: On it.

I pocket my phone and head back to my office.

The following week arrives..

After a few morning calls finish, I need an espresso badly.

The office kitchen is empty when I walk in. I start the espresso machine, wait for it to heat up, and pull out my phone to check emails while the shot pulls.

The door opens behind me. I turn and see Winter standing there. She stops just inside the doorway, clearly not expecting anyone to be here. For a second, neither of us says anything.

"Sorry," she says finally. "Didn't mean to interrupt."

"You're not. Just making coffee." I gesture to the machine.

"Want one?"

"No, thank you. Just grabbing water."

She crosses to the refrigerator, and I turn back to the espresso machine as it finishes. The silence feels heavier than it should.