Victor Hale arrived at the penthouse on a Thursday evening without having been announced in advance, which told Aria something immediately. Either he had a standing access with Lucien that did not require notice, or he had called ahead through a channel that bypassed Dara, or he had simply assumed that his arrival was welcome enough not to require announcement. From what she had observed of him at the board dinner, she suspected the third option was closest to true.
She was in the library when Dara appeared in the doorway and wrote on her card: A guest has arrived. Victor Hale. Mr. Blackwood is still on a call but asked me to let you know.
Aria read it. She closed her book. She thought for a moment about staying in the library and letting Lucien manage this on his own, which would have b
