silent reminder for the person

her to make a dash through it, when Angela pulled out an u

lightly, hooked her arm around his, and t

several minutes to get there. When they reached the c

eaking in a soft, coquettish voice, "Stay with me a little longer, please? I'

lips, his eyes d

ted his arms and wrapp

acked together. The night rain landed on Angela's neck,

you c

os a

even tighter. "N

I really should go. I've

im, her eyes misty with unshed tears. She looked so delicate, as

s, I hope you seriously consider what I said today. Whatever

d, "My uncle is still waitin

nto a Rolls-Royce. His gaze flickered under the

owly made his wa

led out his keys, pressed the unlock button, and

ushed to his head, and for a moment, his mind went bla

45

pped. Car horns outside p

ing with a blank, buzzing mind. Her heart felt

he went to the storage room, pulled out a cardboard

to pay him back for everything, including a ticket to Catherine's concert-which they

s to quietly wait for

e doorbell rang

in rain, pitifully standing outside, re

explain," then look at her with reddened eyes, tug at

that, Emil

elt like

th, she forced herself u

dim glow, but it was enou

rim, his hair limp but completely d

ke she had

lowered. He glanced at h

ily

deliver the speech she had prepared

pen her mouth, Carlos

y,".

exhausting. I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even dreami

back, cutting him off.

her uncle drives a Rolls-Royce with a rare license plate. There's only one like it in all of New York City. Money, power

from sheer rage-she was one fing

umped her before sh

rame tightly, her tone icy and co

yea

in the eye. He glanced quick

ath-and then in one motion, kicked both t

friends with you?! Go be f

y leaned against it, still feeling the reverberations,

, she heard fo

hope stirred in her. Maybe C

n time to see Carlos carrying the box a few steps

iven her-ceramics, trinkets, books

ulled something small out and s

box behind and en

w

blinke

e valuable item in that

ed every rosy filter she had ever applied to their relationship. Even the most

hing her pillow over and over, but

es, she saw Carlos looking l

, eyes wide o

off. In the afternoon, she forced

ut she wasn't about to l

" said her editor Bella, not looking up from her computer. "But we'll

ka

ride so far, mostly thanks to your looks. You know how many reporters make ten calls and get five in meetings,

Emily said flatly. "Otherwise I wouldn't have f

d, but by the end of her sentence, her tone

ly,

to feign concern. "Wa

"It's fine. Just gave yourse

, muttering curses and massaging her eyes. "Told y

y muttered, the memory of last night flashin

smart, attractive, have a good job, and a

actually Bella's long

publication, planning to make h

f China's elite finance universities, with

ly, Bella thought

eye-catching. Combine it with education

The Times could push her further-making her a big name, a journalis

to argue. She glanced at

not dead, go chase down some leads," Bella said, wav

time for drama-Emily had no time to mope. She

in the city's fourth ring. Remote, still under

y. She had been here for interviews often.

en they'd have dinner, watch movi

r the summit ended, she tu

d it, the staff had alr

an egg tart-Ca

two red grapes, which now looked e

ror as Emily stared at the pastry

id nervously. "It's aftern

doorbell rang. The assistant w

t the tart when a familia

d sharply-and me

d at the doorway, uns

d the woman beside him closer

he was holding hands with t

ame a

ght and parading ar

n Emily, but didn't intend to leave. "I'm use

ole box of egg tarts, and

uilt. In fact, she looked proud, like someone who crashed a wedding

temples

I'll t

rt down and left

hing struck her. She turned and caught

d landed on the golden b

och Carlos had ta

, it felt like a thousand burning co

but a few steps l

a tree by t

ed. It had never see

eaving, her cheeks

head slightly-and saw Carlos

. Angela held his arm, bounc

st get out

jaw hurt, then finally

as doing-not calling a cab

p by aimless step, dow

d. She stopped at an inters

r eyes caug

under a dim light, was a

lls-

d seen last night. The one Carlos h

lashed thro

, Bella's v

ful, successful-why s

her face, but her tho

ational. It

ly made a decision that would

what they've done, won't see you as gracef

twenty years

d

powerfu

d

sure that one day, when you grovel before m

lready besi

ction in the window and

hat was a new kind of allure. Less vibr

ked on t

pened for a

o one was inside, the w

pair of gold-rimmed glass

rest of the man's

ered a sil

gets a fac

r estate last night-the one w

looked plain as wa

didn't seem too surprised when the car wind

Emily didn't think it w

he shown some in

my phone's dead and I can't get a taxi. C

just slightly tilted his face a

at he meant, so she decided to be bold and said, "

d at her fo

f his glasses effectively suppressed any hin

r, Aiden slowly tu

ve rides to women

y,".

ight in front of her, r