“You have the company you built, Adrian,” I said.

“Whatever is left of it.”

He looked up, his eyes begging for something I couldn’t give him.

“Claire, please,” he said.

“Help me.”

“We can put it back together.”

“Your designs for the waterfront, we can use them to secure the loans.”

Julian stepped between us, his face expressionless.

“The waterfront project belongs to Vance Development and Claire Bennett,” Julian said.

“Bennett Urban Systems has no part in it.”

“We are announcing the groundbreaking on Friday morning.”

“The press invitations have already been sent.”

Adrian looked at Julian, then back to me.

“Claire,” he whispered.

“I made a mistake.”

“Yes, you did,” I said.

I turned my back on him.

We walked away, leaving him alone under the bright lights of the terminal.

The rain was still falling when we reached the curb.

Thomas was waiting with the door open, the warm air from the heater escaping into the cold night.

I sat back against the leather seat, the velvet pouch heavy in my hand.

“Are you alright?” Julian asked.

“I’m fine,” I said.