Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Sylvia still didn't respond.

Lester closed the file that his assistant, Zion, had just handed him and rubbed the corner of his eyes. "Who's in such a rush?"

"Sorry, did I interrupt you?" Sylvia apologized, just as she was about to answer him—but then she noticed a car had been tailing them for a while.

She hadn't used to care about things like this, but after everything that had happened lately, she was much more alert.

That car had been on their tail since they left the wedding boutique.

Lester was busy going through paperwork in the backseat, so their own car wasn't moving fast. The car behind them was patient, never losing sight.

Thinking it through, Sylvia improvised, "Just a client. They weren't happy with the design, so they sent a lot of feedback."

Lester shot her a sideways glance, his tone low. "You don't trust me at all, huh?"

Sylvia pressed her lips together-she knew she was way out of her league trying to lie to a cunning businessman like him.

After a moment, she pointed to the plaza ahead. "Let me out here."

Lester looked skeptical, but he still nodded for the driver to pull over.

Before she got out, Sylvia suddenly grabbed Lester's hand, squeezing it tight for a

brief moment-then she slipped out without looking back.

Inside the car, Zion turned to Lester. "Sir, should we-?"

followed," Lester said

Zion replied, checking the

***

out, Sylvia headed straight into a mall and ducked

"Welcome, ma'am-oh, it's you!"

Can you help me

"Come with me."

Naomi, nodded for Sylvia to follow her. They

Sylvia had chosen this spot to get

a staff door, into

alley behind the mall. Stay safe, alright?" the manager warned

"Thank you."

to your mom for me. She hasn't

mountains on a retreat, barely any cell service. When she's back, I'll

"Deal."

and watched Sylvia disappear through

into the crowd

kept buzzing in

She checked it-Yves had

a hundred

to commands, and now were just

he wrote made her skin

was

exactly what