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Chapter 180
Monica took out the airline's supreme membership card.She did it without hurry, reaching into the inner pocket of her blazer and producing a single black card with a metallic finish — the kind that didn't carry a name printed on the front, only a small embossed insignia that anyone in the airline industry would recognize immediately. She held it out toward the flight attendant, not aggressively, simply presenting it the way someone might present something they assumed would settle a matter quickly.The flight attendant's face instantly turned pale.She stared at the card for a long moment, her mouth slightly open, before she managed to speak. "That's— that's a Diamond Sovereign card. There are only—" She stopped herself, swallowing. "There are fewer than twenty of those issued worldwide.""Nineteen, currently," Monica said, her tone unchanged. "Mr. Hart holds one of them."The flight attendant looked at Joshua.He hadn't moved. He was still seated, the folder of documents resting in
Chapter 179
"Sir, I really must insist—""He said there's no issue," came a voice from a few rows back. A man in a suit, clearly irritated by the disruption to his pre-flight routine, didn't even bother lowering his voice. "Can we get this resolved? Some of us would like to depart on time."The flight attendant flushed slightly but pressed on. "I appreciate that, but passenger safety and accurate seating are—""It's clearly a fake ticket situation," the man in sunglasses said, loud enough now that half the cabin could hear him clearly. "Happens all the time. Some people will do anything to sit up here for a few hours, take a few pictures, post them online like they're somebody." He shook his head with theatrical disgust. "Just embarrassing, honestly.""Completely," his companion agreed. "And then they cause a whole scene when they get caught."The flight attendant, emboldened by the apparent agreement from nearby passengers, straightened. "Sir, I'm going to need you to gather your belongings and
Chapter 178
Around the same time, Joshua received an invitation from Lorenzo.It arrived through Monica, who brought it to him at the villa with the composed, efficient quality of someone delivering something she had already reviewed and assessed. "Lorenzo's expanding into film and television," she said, setting a tablet in front of him. "He wants you involved in the negotiations. There's a meeting scheduled at the Meridian Island resort — three days, several parties involved."Joshua looked at the details."Two actresses are confirmed to attend," Monica continued. "Sherry Quinn — she dominated the industry about a decade ago before she stepped back from public life. And Kate Horton, who's been rising fast over the last two years. Lorenzo's looking at both of them for a project he's financing." She paused. "He specifically asked for you."Joshua nodded. "I'll go.""I'll arrange the flight," Monica said.The flight was business class — not first, which Joshua had specifically requested, the same w
Chapter 177
Hartley looked at the envelope.He picked it up.He looked inside.The conversation that followed was brief and professional and concluded with the specific, quiet efficiency of two people who had reached an understanding that neither of them would be discussing with anyone else.Mark left Hartley's office and relaxed for the first time since Walter Crane had walked through the sitting room door.The relaxation did not last long before the next calculation began.He drove back toward the Cavesh residence with the specific, forward-moving energy of a man who had secured one flank and was now assessing the next one. The divorce was covered — Hartley would push it forward regardless of Natalie's wavering, regardless of whatever softening the afternoon had produced. That was managed.But managed was not sufficient.The softening needed to be reversed. The uncertainty Natalie was carrying — the specific, uncomfortable uncertainty of a woman who had seen Joshua with Walter Crane and had beg
Chapter 176
Mark immediately noticed Natalie's changing mood.He saw it the moment the last car pulled out of the driveway — the specific, subtle shift in her that occurred when the external audience was gone and she no longer needed to maintain the proud, composed performance she had held throughout the meeting. The sitting room felt different without Hartley and Crane and Joshua occupying it. The formal, charged atmosphere of the negotiation had dissipated, leaving something quieter and more complicated in its place.Natalie was sitting back.Not the deliberate, controlled sitting back of a woman choosing to relax — the involuntary quality of a woman whose tension had found its natural level now that the witnesses were gone. She was looking at the table. At the arrangement of chairs that still retained the configuration of the afternoon. At the space where Walter Crane had placed document after document with the unhurried, methodical patience of someone who had prepared for everything and had b
Chapter 175
"I think we should conclude for today," Hartley said. His voice had shed the aggressive confidence of the opening. What remained was professional and controlled and considerably more careful than what he had been producing two hours earlier. "Both sides have presented their preliminary positions. There are clearly significant areas of disagreement that will require further review before productive discussion is possible.""Agreed," Crane said. His voice was warm and entirely unbothered — the specific, easy agreement of someone for whom the session's inconclusive ending was entirely anticipated and was not a setback.He began gathering the documents with the practiced, efficient movement of someone who had done this many times and had a system.Before leaving, he turned to Joshua."Even if Ms. Cavesh declines to cooperate with a negotiated settlement," Crane said, his voice professional and direct, "there are legal avenues available that do not require her agreement. Long-term separati
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