Yvonne’s voice came from outside the office.
"Jacob, Claire. Perfect, you’re both here."
The moment Yvonne pushed the door open, Jacob released Claire.
The tension between them still filled the room.
Yvonne’s eyes dropped to the red mark on Claire’s chin. She understood immediately, but her smile stayed flawless.
"Jacob, there’s a couture brand called OCHH. Their Nova Collection has stayed at the top of the industry for years. I want to reach out and see if they’re open to an acquisition."
OCHH.
Claire stopped rubbing her wrist.
Something unusual flickered through her otherwise cool eyes.
Yvonne looked at her. "What do you think, Claire?"
"You’re the expert here, Ms. Warren. I’m still finishing the Crescent project, and Moonstone Studio needs my attention too. I won’t be involved in the OCHH acquisition."
Yvonne lifted her chin slightly, a mocking smile touching her lips.
’Claire Kendall, who do you think you are?’
The OCHH acquisition was Yvonne’s next major project. She had never planned to let Claire anywhere near it. Asking for her opinion was only an excuse to walk into the office.
"Do whatever you want. The design department is yours." Jacob turned and left, his face still cold.
The huge diamond ring he had brought Claire was still on the desk.
Claire frowned, put it in the safe, and locked it away. The last thing she needed was trouble over an expensive ring later.
She had stayed with Sharon long enough. Now that work had calmed down, she started scrolling through rental listings for a place of her own.
Then one name caught her eye.
Regency Gardens.
She couldn’t afford to buy there yet, but renting a unit was well within her budget.
’Neighbors with Miles?’
The idea made perfect sense. If she wanted to win Miles over, living next door certainly wouldn’t hurt.
***
Two days later, Claire moved out of Sharon’s place and into Unit 502 at Regency Gardens.
Unit 501 next door was the spacious apartment where she had spent the night with Miles.
The two units had the same layout, but 502 had been sitting empty and needed plenty of furniture and household items.
Claire ordered a pile of things online, and delivery workers came and went all day.
Next door, Miles was used to silence. He had finally gotten two days off, only to spend them listening to furniture scrape across the floor and the occasional loud crash through the wall.
His phone rang. Jonathan’s name appeared on the screen.
Miles stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows and answered, already in a worse mood than Jonathan had ever heard.
"Make it quick."
Jonathan paused. "Damn. Who ruined your day off? I was calling to ask you to lunch, not get my head bitten off."
"Someone’s moving in next door. They’re loud." Miles rubbed his brow.
Jonathan laughed. "You can’t exactly ban people from living next to you. That’s a little unreasonable, even for you."
"I know. That’s why I need a favor." Miles exhaled. "Find the owner of 502. I’ll buy the unit. Pay the new tenant ten times whatever it costs them to move again."
"All right, Mr. Warren. Must be nice to have money to burn. I’ll have someone contact the owner."
The call ended. Almost immediately, something heavy scraped loudly across the floor in the hallway again.
Miles took a slow breath. His headache got worse.
***
That afternoon, Jacob went to Southside Apartments.
Their argument at the office had been interrupted that morning. He intended to get a real answer from Claire.
Jacob stopped his car at the entrance, and a security guard hurried over and tapped on the window.
Jacob lowered it.
"Mr. Sinclair, I’m glad I finally caught you. Ms. Kendall left something with me for you. She said I had to make sure you got it personally. You haven’t been around much lately."
Jacob smiled. Of course he hadn’t. He had been deliberately making Claire wait.
The guard handed him a manila envelope.
Jacob recognized Claire’s handwriting on the front.
[For Jacob Sinclair Only]
This was one of Claire’s old habits.
Whenever they fought, she used letters to make peace.
A satisfied smile spread across Jacob’s face. Everything was going exactly as he expected.
’I knew it. After everything I’ve given her, there’s no way she’d really leave me.’
Jacob lit a cigarette and reached for the envelope, ready to enjoy whatever emotional apology his little bird had written. Then his phone rang.
His assistant sounded anxious. "Mr. Sinclair, there’s a problem with the contract we just signed. Where are you? I can come to you."
"Got it. I’m heading back now."
Jacob shoved the envelope into the glove compartment, started the car, and drove back to the office.
Claire had been living at Regency Gardens for two days and still hadn’t run into Miles.
She also hadn’t figured out how to tell him she had moved in next door.
She worried it would backfire and make him think she had planned the whole thing. Which, to be fair, wasn’t completely wrong.
Her phone rang. Wendy was calling.
"Claire, a client ordered an embroidered silk scarf and offered ten times the normal price. They specifically asked for the designer to deliver it to Brookside Villa."
Claire raised an eyebrow.
Brookside Villa was one of Aethel’s most exclusive event venues. It also belonged to the Sinclair family.
’Who spends ten times the normal price on an embroidered silk scarf they don’t need, then insists I deliver it to the banquet hall?’
She didn’t need to think hard. This had Yvonne written all over it.
Today had to be Jacob and Yvonne’s engagement party.
Yvonne wanted to make a show of claiming Jacob, watch Claire fall apart, and humiliate her in front of Aethel’s elite.
Too bad Claire wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction.
"Wendy, wrap the scarf. I’m on my way."
Ten times the price was still ten times the price. She wasn’t going to turn down good money. And she could use this chance to get Jacob off her back for good.
***
Claire arrived at Brookside Villa to find the engagement party already in full swing.
At the entrance, a large welcome sign showed Jacob and Yvonne embracing beneath the words JACOB SINCLAIR & YVONNE WARREN - ENGAGEMENT CELEBRATION.
Claire walked inside carrying the gift box.
The ceremony hadn’t started yet, and the event hall was packed with guests talking and laughing.
Claire wore a simple solid-colored gown that stood out from the more elaborate outfits around her. Her beauty and quiet confidence still drew plenty of attention.
Yvonne stood near the stage. The moment she spotted Claire, satisfaction flashed in her eyes.
She walked over first and took the gift box.
"Thank you, Claire. Mrs. Sinclair’s dress needed a scarf, and we couldn’t find anything that worked. Sorry I had to make you come all the way out here."
"No need to thank me. Ten times the regular price was pretty hard to turn down, Ms. Warren." Claire smiled.
’She wants to play nice? I can play nice too.’
"I have to admit, I didn’t realize your fiancé really was Mr. Sinclair."
Claire turned toward Jacob. His expression was complicated, but her smile stayed calm.
"Congratulations on your engagement, Mr. Sinclair."