All I could see in my mind’s eye was Zoe’s tear-streaked face. All I could hear was her soft whisper. Ryder, I love you.

I might as well not have gone into work; I was so distracted. But I had to. The Star article had been timed to maximize the impact of the revelation before tomorrow’s city council vote. Every Councilor who had supported us would be getting phone calls and emails from their constituents. I had to act to counter that.

Paige was already at her desk when I got in. “I have bad news,” she said bluntly, as soon as she saw me.

I moved to her coffee station to pour myself another cup. “I’ve already seen the Star.” My voice was bitter. “Can you schedule a meeting with Laurel, Steve, and Manny? We’ve got to come up with a plan of attack.”

“That’s just it.” She took a deep breath. “I wasn’t talking about the Star article. Steve came in after hours last night and cleared out his desk. He left this.” She handed me a sealed envelope. “It was addressed to you.”

I took it from her, tore it open and scanned the contents. “A letter of resignation,” I said aloud. “Effective immediately.”

A horrible suspicion filled me that I’d jumped to conclusions and made a terrible mistake. The timing of Steve’s resignation couldn’t be a coincidence. And Brad Wexley was very effective at recruiting allies. At the town hall meeting, I thought he was in cahoots with Bianca Russo. Steve Sinclair had been disgruntled ever since I insisted he take the park and playground seriously. If Wexley had approached Steve, would he have given him a copy of the old plans, knowing that their disclosure would embarrass Drake & Partners?

I had an uneasy feeling that the answer was yes. Sneaking out in the middle of the night, resigning without giving proper notice? These were not the actions of an innocent man.

“Find out who hired Steve,” I snapped at Paige.

“I’m on it.”

“And get Manny and Laurel here.”

“They’re on their way up.” Her phone rang, and she picked it up. “Ryder Drake’s office,” she said. “Can I help you?”

I watched her face tense as she listened to whatever the person on the other end of the line was saying. “Yes, Ms. Russo,” she said, “I’ll put you through to Mr. Drake right away.”

I massaged my temples. This was undoubtedly about the Star article. I needed my A-game for this conversation with Bianca Russo, and after this morning, I definitely didn’t have it. “I’ll take it in my office,” I muttered moodily to Paige.

Fuck me. I wanted to wake up right now in my bed, Zoe curled up next to me, her breathing soft and even. I wanted nothing more for all of this to be a nightmare.

But if it was a nightmare, there was no sign of it ending.

* * *

“Bianca.” I sat in my chair and leaned back, trying and failing to forget that last night, I’d bent Zoe over my desk, spanking her and fingering her until she’d come with a loud, uncontrolled moan. “I’m assuming you’ve seen the Star article.”

“I have.” Her voice was crisp. “I also know you’re not a fool, Ryder, and I know you want to see Drake Towers built.”

“I do.” Where was this conversation leading?

“The plan that was in the Star this morning, is that your actual proposal?”

Bianca had never been stupid. Her question was right on point. “No, of course not.”

“I know you think I’m on the fence about your project,” she said candidly. “I’m not. The construction will be in my ward. The developers will need to hire workers. All the millionaires who will eventually take up residence in Drake Towers will need grocery stores, restaurants, dry-cleaning, dog-walking, whatever. I know the project will create employment for my constituents. I’d be foolish to disregard that.” She paused. “The same way you’d be foolish to do anything other than to deliver exactly what you promised. A park and a playground.”

There it was. The velvet glove. If I played fair, then so would Bianca. “I appreciate that you called,” I said carefully. “And I’m grateful for your guidance.”

“That’s not why I called,” she said.

It wasn’t? “Oh?” I couldn’t hide the note of surprise from my voice.

“No. I called because I was browsing through some paperwork on my desk and came across something interesting.” She paused meaningfully. “Did you know your wife’s grandmother’s house is being seized by the city for non-payment of taxes next week?” There was a rebuke in her voice. “I have to say, I’m surprised, Ryder. I’d expected you to take care of your own.”

“What?” My heart thudded in my chest. “There really was a property tax issue?”

“Zoe didn’t tell you?”

I back-pedaled. Bianca couldn’t find out the truth about our marriage. I had to act like I knew what was going on. “They owed two hundred thousand dollars. It was paid off.” A surge of guilt rushed through me as I spoke those words. Zoe hadn’t lied. Her grandmother’s house really had been at risk.

“No.” Bianca’s voice was impatient. “Two hundred thousand dollars was the back taxes amount, and it was paid off. But Nellie Robinson still owes eighty-three thousand dollars in fines.”

“That’s not possible.” My palms were sweaty. “She would have told me.” Then I remembered Zoe’s words this morning. There’s something I need to talk to you about. She had tried to tell me. And knowing Zoe, she would have hated to ask for my help. But she’d tried to do so anyway. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

“I’m assuming it’s because you are loaded, and she is leery of being called a gold-digger,” Bianca said quietly. “Not all women care about money, Ryder.”

Zoe hadn’t. She’d gone out on a limb when she’d trusted me. And I’d thrown her trust and her love back at her face. I’d read an article and rather than give the woman I’d fallen in love with the benefit of the doubt, I’d instantly believed the worst of her.

Because once upon a time, my father had been in love with my mother, and it hadn’t kept him from hurting her.

Because deep inside, I was afraid that I was more like him than I wanted to be.

But my fear was no excuse. When push had come to shove, I had failed my wife.

I didn’t deserve a second chance. But I could still save the house that she cared so much about. It was the least I could do.