Chapter 10

Day two, 7:00 in the morning. Victoria stands in the lobby of Cole Ventures headquarters in Manhattan. She's wearing yesterday's cream Chanel suit; it's wrinkled, and there's a coffee stain on the sleeve she couldn't get out in the airplane bathroom. The red-eye from San Francisco was six hours of staring at the seat in front of her: no sleep, just the flight tracker counting down miles.Cole Ventures is forty stories of glass and steel. The lobby has white marble floors that echo every footstep; modern art hangs on pristine walls; the receptionist desk looks like it cost more than most cars.Victoria approaches. The receptionist is young, professional, with a nametag that reads Lisa."Good morning. I need to see Darien Cole."Lisa's fingers pause over her keyboard. "Do you have an appointment?""No, but it's urgent. I'm Victoria Ashford.""I'm sorry, Ms. Ashford. Mr. Cole only sees people by appointment.""Please, just tell him I'm here. Five minutes. That's all I need."Lisa looks uncomfortable. She picks up her phone, speaks quietly. Victoria can't hear the words, but Lisa glances at her twice. Lisa hangs up. "I'm sorry. Mr. Cole is in meetings all day."Victoria's stomach drops. "I'll wait.""Ma'am, he could be in meetings until 6:00 or 7:00.""I'll wait."Lisa hesitates, then nods. "There are chairs by the window."9:00 in the morning. The chairs are expensive and uncomfortable. Victoria sits anyway.9:45. Employees pass by. Some glance at her; some do double-takes. She knows they recognize her.10:30. Lisa brings coffee. "Are you sure you want to keep waiting?""I'm sure."11:00. Victoria's back aches. She checks her phone: 42 missed calls, 37 emails. She ignores them all.Noon. She orders flowers from across the street—expensive roses. She writes on hotel stationery:

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