Ivy stared at the message until the words blurred, then looked up at Sterling, who had gone very still, very pale.

"Reagan," she said slowly. "The ex fiancee everyone thinks you're heartbroken over. That's her."

Sterling didn't answer right away, which was answer enough.

"She never told you that," Ivy said. "You're the chief of staff to a man you were engaged to and left two days before it went public, and she's been standing in every room since like it's just business."

"It is business." Sterling's voice was tight, controlled in a way Ivy recognized now as the sound of him fighting to keep something contained. "She came back...