The Rolls-Royce pulled into the dark, the city sliding past in silence.
Alexander handed me a cup of hot tea with honey, easy and unthinking, as though the three years between us had never happened.
"Your stomach still bothering you?"
I shook my head and took a sip. The heat traced down my throat and settled the twisting ache.
"Thanks for coming to get me."
I kept my voice polite and nothing more.
Alexander's brow creased, a flicker of resignation in his expression.
"Vivienne. Must we really keep this distance between us?"
I said nothing.
Three years ago, I had turned down his offer to chase Damian's broke and brilliant startup dream. I had severed every tie to do it. Now I was crawling out of the wreckage, and he was still here, holding the door open.
"I'm not exactly a valuable
