Chapter 289

The receptionist gave me a rehearsed smile, polite and immovable. "I'm sorry, Miss Vance, but you're not on Mr. Laurent's schedule today. Do you have an appointment?" The words nearly slipped out: "I'm his wife." Then reality caught up with me. I wasn't. Not anymore. I was still fumbling for an answer when another voice cut across the lobby. "It's all right, I'll take care of it. Miss Vance, why don't we step this way?" The hairs prickled at the back of my neck. I turned and found myself face to face with Lea. Blonde hair fell sleek around her shoulders, her fitted dress in a shade designed to command attention without looking like it tried, her makeup immaculate. She looked as though she had stepped out of one of those glossy magazines featuring formidable businesswomen. "Ash is in a meeting," she said smoothly, already heading for the glass doors. "I don't think he wants to be disturbed. Let's take this to the café opposite, shall we?" Ash. The way she said it grated. As if the name