Chloe called during lunch. Leighton was at her desk, halfway through a salad she didn't taste.
"We have a situation."
Leighton set down her fork. "What kind of situation?"
"Vanessa reached out. To me. This morning."
The name landed like a punch. Leighton's hand tightened around her phone. "What did she want?"
"To apologize, apparently. And to ask for a wedding invitation." Chloe's voice was tight. Controlled. "She says her family and Marcus's go way back. Which is true. They do business together. Have for years."
"You can't be serious."
"I'm not considering it. Obviously. But Marcus thinks we should at least hear her out. Extend an olive branch or whatever." Papers rustled in the background. "I told him absolutely not. That woman tried to destroy you. But he keeps saying family poli
