She handed one to me and one to Andrew, keeping the third for herself.

“Go wash up, Elila,” Andrew said gently. “There are clothes in the executive lounge.”

I went to the private bathroom and washed the ash from my face and hands.

The water ran gray down the drain.

I changed into a tailored charcoal suit that had been delivered to the room.

It fit perfectly, hiding the early stages of my pregnancy.

When I stepped out, Andrew was waiting in a fresh dark suit, looking every bit the billionaire CEO.

“It is time,” he said.

We arrived at Leprince Corp headquarters just as the sun was rising.

The glass facade of the building gleamed in the pale morning light.

We took the private elevator straight to the twentieth floor, where the boardroom was located.

The double doors of the boardroom were made of heavy, polished mahogany.

Inside, the long oval table was surrounded by twelve members of the board of directors.

At the far end of the table sat Julian Leprince, looking relaxed in a navy blazer.