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“That’s what best friends are for.”

With a dramatic flourish, Solange strides out of the room. Victoria watches the door close.

“I’m glad to see that Solange still feels the same way about me.”

“She adores you,” Harper says sarcastically.

“It shows. Some things never change.”

Harper finishes her coffee and picks up her folder shortly afterward.

“See you later. Try not to be late.”

Victoria nods, trying to calm her racing heart.

“I’ll be there.”

Harper walks toward the door. Just as her hand reaches for the doorknob, Victoria calls out to her.

“Harper.”

For an endless second, Victoria isn’t sure exactly what she wants to say. She’d like to apologize for running off to Paris. To tell her how proud she is to see how far she’s come at the magazine. To confess that she had no idea Eleanor had mentioned the job to her. To tell her how much she enjoys seeing her again—and doing so well.

But she doesn’t say any of that.

“The September issue is wonderful.”

Harper freezes. The stiffness in her features softens for a second, offering a glimpse of the sweet woman Victoria once loved madly.

“I know,” Harper replies. “But… thank you.”

And, without adding another word, she opens the door and disappears down the hallway.

Victoria is left completely alone in the vast conference room, gazing out at the Manhattan skyline. Five years of convincing herself that leaving had been the most mature decision of her life. Five years of building an impenetrable wall. And it took less than fifteen minutes with her ex-wife for life to bring her right back to square one.

“You’re welcome, Harper Brooks.”

Chapter 3

Victoria Vance is under no illusion that Eleanor Sterling takes pleasure in moving people around as if they were pawns on a diabolical chessboard when, at 8:12 a.m., she discovers that her brand-new office has two desks. And that, on top of that, she’s going to be working in the same space as her ex-wife.

“Don’t mess with me.”

“Do you mind that I took the initiative?” asks her boss, arms crossed as she leans against the doorframe.

Victoria spins on her heels to meet her gaze.

“There are seven empty offices on this floor,” Victoria points out.

“Seven offices I don’t need to occupy,” Eleanor says. “Because what I want is for you two to be close. Connection, friction, chemistry, and results, Victoria. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”

“No, of course not,” Victoria says.

“The fall issue is already behind schedule,” her boss declares, tapping sharply on the folder on the desk as soon as she enters the office. “I need you and Harper to find common ground by Friday at 5:00 p.m. Is that clear? Time is running out.”

“Very much so, but I’m not sure I fully understand the approach.”

“Well, since that’s part of my method, all I care about is getting results,” Eleanor says with a wry smile. “You agreed to come back from Paris to breathe life into this magazine. So go ahead and work your magic.”