Izzy made it to the parking lot before her hands stopped shaking.
She leaned against Alex's car, trying to steady her breathing. The plan had worked, too well. The look on Alex's face when he'd dismissed her hadn't been acting. It felt real. Cold. Exactly like Vivienne had warned.
Her phone buzzed. A text from Alex: *Stay there. I'm coming.*
Five minutes later, he appeared, tie loosened, expression unreadable.
"That was convincing," he said.
"Too convincing."
"Nathan took the bait. He pulled me aside after you left, offered to 'help manage the situation.'" Alex's jaw tightened. "He's already planning his next move."
"What did you say?"
"That I needed time to think. That maybe he was right about you being a distraction."
Izzy flinched despite knowing it was part of the act.
Alex n
