12:18 A.M. Carter Mansion. Richard's Study.

The silence stretched between them.

Richard Carter hadn't moved.

Neither had Vivienne.

The air in the study suddenly felt too small.

Richard slowly straightened his tie, forcing calm back into his expression.

"You've been spending too much time online," he said evenly.

Vivienne tilted her head.

"So that's your answer?"

"I don't owe you one."

A faint smile touched her lips.

"No."

She stepped farther into the room, quietly closing the study door behind her.

"But your face already answered me."

Richard's jaw tightened.

"You imagined it."

"Did I?"

Vivienne's eyes drifted toward the desk.

The papers Richard had hurriedly covered were no longer...