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“Well, this is all very nice,” she says, disregarding me, “but what about that money?”

“What are you talking about?” Alexander growls

“Obviously, the gig is up Blackh Griffin is a lost cause” Her head turns like a shark sensing blood in the water “But it looks like you’re ready to move on”

“It looks like I’m in need of a divorce”

“No, not technically,” Griffin interjects “Scottish jurisprudence ht not be my speciality, but—”

“Oh” She presses a hand to her head “It see! I remember who I’m married to And I remember who he used to make me screw”

“Make you? I couldn’t stop you,” Alexander spits

“The press would still have a field day anyway By the way, that’s a splendid black eye, Griffin” Leonie slides a compact and a lipstick froift?”

“It’s not what you think” From my position, I see Griffin’s fists ball

“No?” Her eyes slide my way “Who decided this tis I know they say the quiet ones are always the worst, but I’ve never really been convinced about that” She casts a sly glance ins to apply her lipstick

A creeping sensation slides up the back ofto realisation with crystal kind of clarity She’s going to use e of our relationship, our love, as leverage against this all co out, just e’re at our ether The one thing he fears she’ll use against him

The truth co out

“How much do you want?” Alexander turns, clearly surprised to find me by his side

“You know nothing aboutabout our love” Leonie scoffs, but I push on because she really has no idea what I’ desire to protect the man next to me “We all make mistakes” My eyes find Alexander’s, and I see hesitancy but also concern “And we judge We all judge Andabout love is you can’t turn it off, no ht hurt in the process So we do the only thing we can do” I press my hand to one cheek andanyway”

I pull away, sliding ers linked until the very end of our fingertips

“How much do you want?” His voice is brusque as I move away All business

“Quite a bit, I’m afraid,” she answers, her tone like a kid in anticipation of candy as my quiet steps carry me out of the room

49

Alexander

“What are you doing?”