The next morning, Athena stood inside her massive walk-in closet. Rows of conservative, high-necked dresses and long-sleeved blouses hung in perfect order. She hated them.
She bypassed the dresses and pulled out a sharply tailored trench coat. She slipped it on, tying the belt tightly around her waist. She grabbed a black, medical-grade silk mask from the drawer and looped it over her ears. It covered her from the bridge of her nose down to her chin.
She added a pair of oversized black sunglasses. Her face was completely hidden.
She grabbed her car keys and walked out the door. Down in the subterranean garage, she slid into the driver's seat of her Porsche. She pressed the ignition. The engine roared to life, the deep vibration sending a much-needed jolt of control through her body.
She slammed her foot on the gas. The car shot out of the garage and merged into the bright Los Angeles traffic, heading straight for Rodeo Drive.
She tossed her keys to the valet and stepped onto the sun-drenched pavement. The smell of expensive perfume and exhaust fumes filled the air.
Annabel was already waiting outside a high-end outdoor cafe. She wore a skin-tight red dress, tapping her foot impatiently.
Annabel lunged forward and wrapped Athena in a bone-crushing hug. The impact nearly knocked Athena's sunglasses off her face. Athena quickly reached up and pushed the frames back up her nose.
They sat down at a small iron table. A waiter immediately dropped off two iced Americanos.
"I swear, if Caswell ever shows his face near my gallery, I will throw paint in his eyes," Annabel ranted, stabbing her straw into the plastic cup.
Athena stirred the ice in her cup. Hearing his name still caused a sharp, involuntary pinch in her chest. She kept her face blank behind the mask.
After finishing their drinks, Annabel grabbed Athena's wrist and dragged her into the Hermès boutique.
A senior sales associate rushed over, her professional smile faltering for a fraction of a second when she saw Athena's mask, before recovering perfectly.
Annabel immediately started pulling scarves off the racks. Athena wandered away, feeling completely detached from the luxury around her. She stopped in front of a glass display case holding limited-edition bags.
She reached out and picked up a heavy Birkin.
"I think this one suits you better."
The voice was low, magnetic, and deeply familiar.
Athena's fingers went rigid. The heavy metal hardware of the Birkin slipped from her grasp and slammed down onto the glass counter with a loud thud.
She stopped breathing. She froze in place, peering through the gaps in the display shelves toward the VIP room.
Caswell Maldonado stepped out. He wore a custom dark suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly. His jaw was relaxed. His eyes, usually so cold and calculating, held a rare trace of warmth.
Standing right beside him was Hayden Curry. Her blonde hair fell in perfect waves. She smiled brightly, clinging tightly to Caswell's arm.
Hayden pointed to a rare crocodile skin bag on a pedestal. She shook Caswell's arm, pouting her lips.
Caswell did not pull away. Instead, he reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. He pulled out a solid black card and handed it directly to the store manager.
A physical blow struck Athena right in the sternum. The boutique spun around her. Her knees buckled slightly.
She stumbled backward, trying to hide in the shadows of the display, but her shoulder blades slammed hard against the solid wall behind her.
Annabel heard the noise. She turned her head. Her eyes followed Athena's devastated stare and landed squarely on Caswell and Hayden.
Annabel's eyes widened to the size of saucers. Her face turned bright red. She slammed the scarf she was holding down onto a velvet sofa.
Across the room, Hayden squealed in delight. She stood on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss right onto Caswell's cheek.
Caswell's body stiffened for a second, but he did not push her away.
Bile rose in the back of Athena's throat. She grabbed Annabel's arm, her fingers digging into the fabric. "Please. We need to leave. Now."
She turned in a blind panic. The strap of her purse caught the edge of a small, freestanding accessory display.
The metal rack tipped over.
A dozen expensive bracelets and enamel bangles crashed onto the marble floor. The shattering noise echoed like a gunshot through the quiet boutique.
Everyone in the store froze.
Caswell turned his head. His sharp, predatory gaze cut through the room and locked directly onto Athena.
