How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie was genuinely taken aback by his bluntness. Rubbing her temples in

exasperation, she realized she had little reason to come looking for him in the first place. "If it's inconvenient, then forget it."

After all, this SX Alloy project was going to be a long-term endeavor. Nothing would be decided overnight.

If he wasn't willing, it wasn't as if she could force him at knifepoint.

Just as she was about to hang up-

"The Silverstein Group. I'll wait for you."

It was as if Jarrod had read her mind, his tone leisurely as he spoke, and then- before she could say anything else he hung up.

With her answer in hand, Elodie didn't bother to revisit their earlier conversation. She swung her car around and headed straight for the Silverstein Group building.

It had been a long time since she last set foot in the Silverstein Group's headquarters. Now, as she walked into the lobby, the crowd surged around her, but more than a few heads turned, their eyes following every step she took.

At the reception desk, the staff were all professionalism and respect. One of them gave a deferential gesture. "Mrs. Silverstein, you can take Mr. Silverstein's private elevator."

Elodie accepted their courtesy with a polite nod and stepped into the elevator.

people's attitudes was impossible to miss outward friendliness was

the executive floor, she passed by the secretarial department. The assistants inside were busy with their work, but as soon as they

Silverstein Group's PR manager-a role with virtually no connection to Mr. Silverstein himself. She'd always kept a low profile.

everyone seemed to be racking their brains, wondering if they'd ever managed

care less what they were thinking. She

or Keith around, so

from behind his desk, slipping off a pair of rimless safety glasses as he did. "Have

some work matters."

a moment, then got up and moved to sit

night, he'd clearly overheard the conversation about the materials. Yet he'd kept his

at her. "They sent

thinking, then changed the subject. "Mr. Silverstein,

It was impossible to tell what problem he was

a hurry. She waited

replied quietly, "I

asked, "Price? Contract length? How do you want to structure

a staggering sum-hundreds of millions over

back home. For

office fell

if she'd misheard. Her perfectly arched