How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie hadn't been looking well lately.

She'd noticed it herself the last time-now, she'd fainted again.

Did Jarrod... know about any of this?

Elodie didn't sleep a wink that night.

When morning came, she felt drained, her nerves frayed. The looming issue with the gallery hung over her like a guillotine, impossible to ignore. She couldn't shake the feeling that things weren't over yet.

After turning it over in her mind, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

She called Jarrod, but whatever he was doing, he didn't pick up. Or maybe-he just didn't want to.

Either way, Elodie no longer cared about the why.

She headed straight for The Silverstein Group.

She'd worked there for three years-long enough that the receptionist recognized her. Elodie phoned Keith in the executive office; his voice was as chilly as ever. "Mr. Silverstein is busy, Ms. Thorne. You'll have to wait."

Elodie made her way upstairs and settled into the lounge.

in passing but didn't bother with

made a point to befriend

and after some small talk, one of them said, "You might be waiting a while, Elodie.

guest?" another chimed in with a wink. "More like the apple of his eye."

meetings, too swamped with work to see her.

women sighed. "She waltzes in and out of The Silverstein Group like she owns the place. No restrictions, no appointments-Mr. Silverstein's door is always open to her. I even heard..."

we talking

a spectator in someone else's

the wife, had to make appointments and wait her turn, while

Everyone else cleared the

cup of tea,

went from the executive suite, but no one came to

breath, Elodie realized she couldn't just sit here forever. She spotted Keith rounding the corner

still busy?"

in hand, and gave a crooked

that supposed to

you were waiting. He left with Ms. Fielding for

was no mistaking the cool

about her being here?