Chapter 7: After Hours

Graham's law firm took up the whole fourteenth floor of a glass building downtown.

At nine on Wednesday night, it was empty.

I'd texted him at five.

Your office. After everyone leaves. I'll find you.

He'd written back a single word: Yes.

The night guard waved me through without looking up.

The elevator opened on dark carpet and a long corridor of closed doors, and only one of them had light under it.

I walked down the hall in heels, a black dress and nothing underneath that anyone would ever need to find out about.

I knocked once and opened the door without waiting.

Graham stood at the window with his jacket off and his tie loose, the city glittering behind him.

He turned, and every line of his body went tight.

"You're late."

"I'm exactly on time."

"I've been standing here for an hour."

"Then you'll want to sit down."

His mouth curved.

"This is my office, Tessa."

"And I'm setting the terms," I said. "Remember?"

He stayed where he was for a long moment, deciding.

Then he walked to the leather chair behind his desk and sat.

I locked the door behind me.

I crossed the carpet slowly and stopped in front of him, close enough that my knees touched his.

"Last time you told me everything you wanted," I said. "Tonight you don't talk."

"That's a hard rule for a lawyer."

"You'll manage."

I sat on the edge of his desk with my legs on either side of his chair.

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