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“Okay.”

She started toward the elevator before stopping.

“Oh, and I’ll see to it that my son gets you a phone.”

I looked up immediately. “For real?”

“Yes.”

“Now I know I like you more than him.”

Vivi smiled. “Don’t tell him that.”

“I might.”

The elevator doors closed behind her, leaving me alone in the penthouse again.

I stared at the closed doors for a while before looking down at my drawing.

Everybody else involved in this arrangement seemed to care about what my marriage could do for them. Vivi was one of the first people who had looked at me and admitted that I never asked for any of it.

I still didn’t know if I could trust her, but for the first time, I wondered if Vivi was sincerely trying to be on my side.

$$$$$

Later that afternoon, the quiet in the penthouse became comfortable enough that I stopped thinking about being there alone. I took my food onto the balcony and left the TV loud in the living room so I could still hear it from outside.

I had found American news, specifically a Southern California station, which made me feel a little closer to home.

I sat at the outdoor table eating a loaded turkey club with bacon and avocado. Homemade chips filled the bowl beside my plate, and I had sparkling strawberry water to drink.

The news had been playing in the background until the anchor’s voice changed.

“…breaking updates in an ongoing homicide investigation involving entrepreneur and mayoral candidate Michael Vale and celebrity Pilates instructor Lyric Banks…”

I stopped with my sandwich halfway to my mouth and looked toward the television.

Two pictures filled the screen. One was a man I didn’t recognize. The other was a pretty brown-skinned woman with blonde hair.

“…authorities say Banks was reportedly one of billionaire Ares Delacroix-Jackson’s former girlfriends…”

I raised an eyebrow at that.

Of course she was.

“…both victims were found deceased several weeks ago. The FBI has now entered the investigation and is actively searching for the person responsible…”

The elevator doors opened before the report was finished.

Ares walked into the penthouse as if the news had called him upstairs personally. He looked toward the television for half a second before coming out onto the balcony.

I looked at him.

“They showed one of your girlfriends on the news.”

Ares didn’t react.

“Said she’s dead.”