Chapter 2 – Crossing Invisible Lines

The second meeting was supposed to be about venue options.

It ended up being about everything else.

Sophia had called me that morning saying she was stuck in back-to-back meetings with her firm. “Just go without me, babe. You know what I like. Lena will handle it.”

I almost told her no. Almost suggested we reschedule.

Instead, I said okay.

Lena’s office looked the same as last time calm, organized, smelling faintly of coffee and fresh paper. She greeted me with the same professional smile, but there was a small flicker of surprise when she realized I was alone.

“Sophia couldn’t make it?” she...