"Heh-"


    Teague gave Victoria a long, slow once-over, barely bothering to hide his disdain.


    "You''re kidding, right? You fix my car? That''s got to be a joke."


    Marcus stepped forward and handed Teague a business card.


    "I''ll handle this. If you have any issues, call me. I''m Marcus, CEO of NeuroNet Systems. And by the way, you were doing ny on a city street tonight. That''s reckless driving. If you want us to pay for your car, fine but you''re responsible too."


    Teague had nothing to say to that.


    Marcus turned to Victoria. "Where are you headed? Let me give you a ride."


    Victoria wanted to refuse, but Curtis had chosen The Azure Pce Hotel for his party tonight. For security, all traffic within a two-mile radius was blocked off— there was no way she''d find a cab out here.


    Teague stepped in front of them, staring at Victoria. "Your phone number. If you run off, how am I supposed to find you?"


    Victoria didn''t hesitate-she recited her number to him.


    Marcus ushered Max and Victoria into his car, leaving Teague standing on the curb.


    "Mr. Yates, you''re just going to let them leave? What about our car?" Teague''s sidekickined.


    Teague shot him a withering look. "My dad''s running for city council. If I so much as sneeze wrong right now, he''ll have my hide."


    The sidekick fell silent, but Teague watched Victoria walk away, something sparking in his eyes.


    "Still... that woman''s interesting. I like her."


    Marcus dropped Victoria off at her house. He nced at the stately home behind her, a vague sense of familiarity tugging at him, though he couldn''t quite ce it. "Thank you," Victoria said quietly.


    "It''s me who should thank you," Marcus replied earnestly. "You saved Max tonight. May I ask your name?"


    He genuinely wanted to express his gratitude. Max''s parents had died in a ne crash two years ago, and since then, Marcus had raised the boy as his own. If anything had happened to Max tonight, Marcus would never have forgiven himself.


    "I" Victoria hesitated, then decided to withhold the truth. "My name''s Fannie."


    "Well, Miss Fannie, I hope we meet again."


    Marcus drove off, with Max waving enthusiastically from the back seat. "Goodbye, Miss Fannie!"


    Victoria pulted Marcus''s suit jacket


    tighter around herself, only then realizing she''d brought it home with her by mistake. She hurried outside, but Marcus''s car had already disappeared down the street.


    "Ma''am?"


    Xenia, the housekeeper, heard the front door and rushed to greet her.


    Upstairs, Gwh had also heard themotion. She thought it was McNeil returning and raced down, only to see Victoria. Her face fell instantly.


    "Mommy, why is it you? Where''s Daddy?"


    Gwh had been dropped off by McNeil''s driver this evening. She''d assumed she''d be taken to Violet''s house as usual, but instead she''d been brought home.


    "Daddy''s busy tonight," Victoria replied, not mentioning that McNeil and Violet were out at a party together.


    "Hmph! Daddy''s probably sneaking off to see Violet again and didn''t want to bring me," Gwh huffed, but her eyes were fixed on Victoria, not angry with Violet at


    all.


    "You told on me, didn''t you? That''s why Violet wouldn''t let mee over."


    Victoria frowned. "Why would you say that?"


    "Daddy asked me why I was napping in ss, and said I''d been ying video games. The teacher said she needed to talk to a parent, so she must have called you. Then you told Daddy about it."


    "Violet is the only one who''s nice to me. She ys games with me—unlike you, Mom. You don''t know how to y, you don''t even like racing games. I hate you. I hate you, Mommy."