Chapter 2
The heavy glass doors of the lobby spun, depositing Claire into the biting wind of the Chicago morning. She didn't look back. Inside, the silence shattered into a million whispers. Vincent stood frozen, staring at the twin silver monoliths at his feet.
"Vincent, we have to go upstairs," Sophia urged, her grip on his arm becoming frantic. "People are staring. You're the CEO, you can't be seen like this."
He jerked his arm away, his eyes blazing. "Did you hear what she said? She knows about my father."
"She's bluffing," Sophia insisted, glancing around at the staff who were hastily pretending to check their phones. "Julian would never bypass you to speak to her. It makes no sense."
"You don't know my father," Vincent muttered, grabbing the handles of the suitcases. They felt like lead. "Get to your office, Sophia. Do not speak to anyone."
"Vincent, please—"
May you like
"I said go!" he snapped, his voice finally cracking like a whip across the lobby.
Upstairs in the executive suite, Vincent threw the suitcases into his office and locked the door. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the street far below, searching for a pale-blue dress in the sea of dark winter coats. She was gone. His phone vibrated on the glass desk. The caller ID flashed a single name: Julian Moretti.
