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Sloane glanced over at the sreat, thank you” Requesting the water served two purposes To ease theto keep her hydrated so she didn’t pass out during what pro conversation

Wallace got out two bottles and handed one to Sloane

He uncapped his and stood beside his large teak desk, watching her

“I think you should sit down,” Sloane suggested

An odd expression crossed his face, a ht” He walked around and sat down behind the desk “This sounds very serious”

“It is And I wish ine that I didn’t have to tell you this”

“Go on”

“It concerns Meili”

Wallace started Clearly, it was the last thing he’d expected “Your father told you about Meili?”

“He didn’t have to I found out about her from her closest friend The friend is here in New York, recovering in a woe” Sloane pulled out the photo of Lucy and Meili and handed it to Wallace

He studied it for a long ti soft and faraway “Meili Beautiful and unique” His head came up “You said her friend is in New York Is Meili here as well?”

“No” Sloane uncapped her water and took a fortifying gulp

So, because Wallace tensed “She’s still in Hong Kong then,” he decided aloud “What did her friend tell you?”

“About your relationship About what happened once it ended Everything except your name, which Meili never revealed I only learned it was you Meili’s friend was describing this past Friday At Phil’s wake After I round story out of my father He didn’t want to tell me But the situation was critical, farYou had to hear it first”

“What situation?” Wallace demanded “Why is it critical? And what is it about Meili that I have to hear?”