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Judge Anderson? The one as in the news all the time?

When Rafe didn’t respond, Celeste continued “You could offer to take his place at the next in-person”

“Isn’t that this week?”

“Saturday I can’t tell you how the others will react,” Celeste warned “You ht be asked to leave But I’ll speak on your behalf”

“If I can’t ensure that Dad will attend, I’ll be there” With a prooodbye, he ended the call “I apologize for the interruption” He depressed a button on the steering wheel to disconnect the line In the arooved next to his eyes “If I can’t talk so”

“Okay” She an a mad scramble “I’ll need to reschedule the mixer”

“I’ll be back in plenty of time”

“How can you do that on such short notice?”

“The company has a plane The executives fly coency prevails”

Of course he had a plane

“You could go with me”

“What?” She turned to look at hi woht want to be his wife But the invitation excited her To jet off to the coast on a whi on a private charter? How divine would that be?

“Another time, then”

There wouldn’t be another time “Since you have personal business to take care of, there’s no need to see me to the office” The sooner she extracted herself from this situation, the better

He didn’t respond She wasn’t sure that reed or that he’d set his course and refused to deviate

When he pulled up in front of her high-rise apart in Midtown, she found out He caer compartment, then followed her up the path

With her hand on the lass door, she paused “Rafe—”

“Was there anything I’ve said that suggested I was open for negotiation?”