“Your investors want the Carter land cleared for development by the end of the month.”

“Without my signature as Emily Carter, you have nothing but a stack of unsigned leases.”

Daniel stepped closer, stopping only inches from where I stood.

I could smell his expensive cologne mixed with the rain on his wool coat.

“You think you’ve won because of a technicality?” he asked.

“I will drag you through every court in Cook County.”

“I will make sure your name is associated with fraud before I’m through.”

“I haven’t committed fraud, Daniel,” I said.

“I simply took back what was mine.”

Clara cleared her throat, her voice sharp and pragmatic.

“Daniel, we are leaving,” she said.

“The press is already calling the office about the filing delays.”

She walked toward the heavy wooden door of the studio.

Before she opened it, she paused and looked back at my canvases stacked against the wall.

“You have a very quiet place here, Emily,” Clara said.

“It must be nice to hide away from the world.”

“I don’t hide anymore, Clara,” I said.