EN

Part Two Adrian Bellamy stood on the sidewalk with the photograph in his hand and the old melody still trembling somewhere inside his chest.

  Part Two Maya Ellis stood in Roman Hale’s office with the check between her fingers and rain shining against the glass behind him.

Part Two Ava Monroe stood in Bennett Cross’s office with the signed invoice in her hands, unable to move. Rain streaked down the windows behind him.

  Part Two Nora stood in Miles Rossetti’s office with the check in her hands, feeling as if the city below had moved farther away. The number was

  Part Two Lily Carter stared at the check as if it might disappear if she blinked. The amount was more than the invoice. Much more.

  Part Two For one long moment, Harrington Plaza forgot how to move. The elevators still opened and closed. The fountain still whispered against the marble.

Part Two For a long moment, Maya could only hear her own breathing. The Pacific Crown lobby stood around her in frozen layers of light and silence.

Part Two For a moment, the Lakeshore Monarch Hotel forgot how to breathe. The string quartet had stopped playing. The guests in evening gowns and dark

Grace held the photograph with both hands. The little picture trembled between her fingers, but this time she did not lower her eyes. Around her, the lobby

Part Two For a few seconds, no one in the Grand Bellamy lobby moved. The piano had gone silent. The champagne glasses stopped halfway to painted lips.