Chapter 3 - THE FALLEN PETAL
Sienna looked at Grant,
her wide eyes searching his face for an explanation that he did not have.
Then she looked at me,
and finally,
she looked down at the black silk robe she wore.
She seemed to suddenly realize where she was,
and who she was standing before.
One single,
white rose petal loosened from her bouquet,
falling through the air in slow motion,
before landing silently on the polished marble floor.
It lay there,
a perfect,
isolated mark of her intrusion.
Grant was the first to recover his composure,
stepping forward and smoothing the front of his expensive jacket.
"What is this,
Evelyn?"
he asked,
his voice rising in anger,
trying to regain control of the room.
"What kind of game are you playing?"
Madeleine Cross did not give me a chance to answer.
She opened her leather folder,
the sound of the turning paper sharp in the quiet room.
"This is not a game,
Mister Whitmore,"
she said,
her voice calm and professional.
"This is a voluntary disclosure conference.
Considering your recent behavior,
we believed you might find this approach to be merciful."
"Disclosure?"
Sienna whispered,
her voice trembling as she looked between Grant and the attorneys.
"Grant,
what is she talking about?
You told me this place was yours."
Grant did not look at her.
He did not even glance in her direction.
That was the first real crack in the beautiful future he had promised her.
"This is private property,"
Grant said,
glaring at me,
his fists clenching at his sides.
I allowed myself a small,
cold smile.
"It is indeed private property,
Grant."
He pointed a finger toward the attorneys at the table.
"Then get these people out of my home."
"The attorneys are here at the owner's invitation,"
I replied softly,
leaning back in my chair.
"And as the sole owner of this penthouse,
I have every right to invite whoever I wish."
His eyes narrowed,
a red flush beginning to creep up his neck.
"You are being dramatic,
Evelyn.
You have always been too dramatic."
"No,"
I said,
shaking my head slowly.
"At the Plaza Hotel,
I was being dramatic.
May you like
Tonight,
this is pure strategy."
