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“Shorter”

“But otherwise the same?” She could picture it He’d probably been the only four-year-old in his undoubtedly expensive preschool with a business plan in his backpack

“Yes, ma’am”

“Clover,” she corrected automatically

He nodded noncoh-rise on the corner of Expensive Avenue and Forget-About-It Street Okay, those weren’t the actual street na her neck as she looked out the passenger , she could almost make out the naiant sweeping font

Whip fast, Linus got out of the car, rounded the hood, and opened her door “Mr Carlyle is waiting for you in the penthouse Just have Irving buzz Mr Carlyle to let him know you’re on your way up” He held out his hand to help her out When she didn’t move, he dropped his voice so there was no way anyone heard his words ast the clatter of Harbor City “No need to worry, Clover You’ll do just fine”

Were her nerves that obvious? Only if you’re breathing, rat lady

She took a deep breath and accepted the driver’s help out of the car, even though she’d been stepping out of vehicles unaided for as long as she could re rude, and she couldn’t do that to him

“Thank you, Linus”

He nodded and closed the door behind her

Squaring her shoulders so no one would notice the way they quaked, Clover forced one foot in front of the other toward the opulent glass doors She’d h before she realized she had no frickin’ clue who in the hell Irving was

…

It turned out that Irving was the door—thank you whoever atching out for her upstairs He had a huge fluffy black mustache, perceptive eyes, and a Russian accent as fake as her engagement She liked him immediately

The exaggerated Bond-villain pronunciation he used when he called up to Sawyer’s penthouse and his devotion to sertips was a thing to behold In fact, she was so fascinated watching Irving that she didn’t have any time to double think her life choices No Her stupid brain saved all the fun, torturous stuff for the looooong elevator ride up to the top floor of a very tall building

The doors whooshed open to reveal…a totally lux open-concept penthouse It was all grays, blacks, chroht She was afraid to touch anything Gobsered in the elevator too long because the doors started to close Leaping forward, she sped through just in time