Julian's POV
Her name was Serena Cole.
I hadn't thought about her in three years. We'd dated for eight months before my marriage to Nadia, the kind of relationship that existed in the space between two people who were convenient for each other and honest enough not to pretend otherwise. It ended cleanly. No damage, no residue.
Or so I'd thought.
She called on a Monday morning while I was at the office.
I didn't recognize the number. I picked up because I was expecting a call from the London team. "Julian." Her voice was exactly as I remembered it. Precise, slightly amused at everything. "It's Serena."
I sat back in my chair.
"Serena," I said.
"I'm in New York. I heard through reasonably reliable sources that you're at a firm called Meridian now." A pause. "I wanted to reach out. It
