Adrienne's POV
Jake's phone was ringing again.
I checked the screen before he could reach for it. Angela's name.
Haha, Beatrice said inside me. That woman just doesn't know when to stop.
"Jake?" I said softly.
He looked at the screen for a long moment.
I'd spent weeks building this dynamic carefully, deliberately. Every time Angela reached for him, I'd made sure his attention was already somewhere else. Tonight I'd brought up the video at the right moment, shown him the trending gossip with exactly the right timing, reminded him of my fragility at every juncture. I'd brought him to this office to be photographed leaving with me. I'd tested every variable. I already knew he wouldn't answer.
I'd made sure of it.
Then he declined the call.
Seconds later it started vibrating again. An
