Elysia felt a wave of guilt wash over her as she pped her forehead lightly. "Oh gosh, I''ve been drinking way too much wely-feels like my brain''s turned to mush."


    "That''s not it." Amara knew exactly what was running through her friend''s mind. She pulled a face and said, "Ely, we aren''t actually divorced."


    "What?"


    Elysia was momentarily stunned.


    "Not divorced?"


    "Yeah, we were supposed to meet at the city hall, but Finnian stood me up. When


    I went to his office, he said he wasn''t ready to sign the papers and would decide on it whenever he felt like it."


    Elysia''s temper red up instantly as she cussed out, "That jerk! Why''s he holding you back? Does he really think you''ve got something going on with Keith?


    And even if you and Keith did have something, isn''t he doing the same thing? The nerve of him, he''s such a hypocrite!"


    Amara nodded vigorously. "Exactly, he''s being so two-faced. It''s infuriating!"


    The more Amara thought about it, the more it made sense. Finnian was stalling probably because he was irritated about her and Keith.


    Initially, she wanted to exin the situation to him when the time was right, but now she realized there was no point.


    "No way, that jerk! I''ve got to go have it out with him!"


    Elysia was someone who acted first and thoughtter. She put her champagne down on the hallway table and turned to put on her shoes.


    Amara quickly stopped her. "Don''t bother. He''s clearly not going to listen to reason. What''s the point in talking to him? Let me figure something outter."


    Amara was worried Elysia would act impulsively. Elysia''s hot-headedness really needed some cooling down.


    Elysia brushed Amara''s hand away, ready to lecture her about not being so passive, but then she remembered how Amara''s timid nature was a result of years of pressure from Elowen and Fiona. It wasn''t something that would change overnight. So instead, she said, "Alright, we''ll deal with itter."


    Seeing Elysia calm down, Amara finally felt relieved. She picked up the bottle Elysia had brought. "This looks like a good bottle of wine. Let''s whip up something to eat. The?ridge is stocked; we can cook at home."


    "Sure."


    Amara and Elysia quickly got to work in the kitchen, prepping ingredients and ordering some takeout, though they decided not to open the wine.


    Elysia mentioned she had a meetingter that evening and wanted to stay clear- headed. Amara didn''t question it and insisted Elysia eat plenty.


    After leaving Amara''s apartment, Elysia hopped into her car, her eyes flickering with ideas. Instead of driving home, she decided to head somewhere else.


    "Finn, do you have any openings here? Could you find a spot for Jessica?"


    In the lounge next to the president''s office at Everly Group, Dorian sat down with Jessica across from Finnian.


    Dorian had mentioned he needed a favor, and Finnian had been curious. He hadn''t expected it to be about finding a job for Jessica.


    "Sure," Finnian replied. "What field is she interested in?"


    "Mr. Everly, I majored in humanities and have done some part-time work in copywriting. I also speak somenguages, so trantion wouldn''t be a problem."


    Jessica was wearing a simple


    cotton dress in white, with a


    barely-there makeup look that made


    her seem both innocent and


    delicate. She sat quite close to


    Dorian.


    Finnian nodded. "I''ll have Will handle it and find you a position."


    Dorian had taken over the Hawke Group but hadn''t brought Jessica on board, probably to avoid any gossip.


    Remembering all the times Dorian hadined about Elysia, Finnian started to suspect that maybe things weren''t quite what they seemed.