The note made her smile. Despite all the mystery and complications, Archer’s gestures of thoughtfulness were becoming a constant she could rely on.
Morgan checked her phone—7:15 AM, still time for coffee before heading to work. She padded to the kitchen, passing the security cameras Kane had installed without a second thought. The cameras had been a practical decision after finding her door unlocked, but she hadn’t felt it necessary to mention them to Archer. It wasn’t that she was hiding anything; it simply hadn’t seemed relevant to their evening together.
As she sipped her coffee, Morgan’s phone pinged with a notification from the clinic. Her test results were in, available through the patient portal. She logged in quickly, her heart rate quickening as she navigated to the results page.
All negative. Relief washed through her.
She immediately texted Archer:Got my results. All clear.
His response came within seconds:Perfect timing. I’m free tonight if you are. My place this time?
Morgan paused, coffee cup halfway to her lips. His place? That was new. Until now, they’d always met at her apartment, maintaining his privacy and control over the environment.
I’d love that. Where?
I’ll send a car at 7.
A car, not his motorcycle. Another deviation from their established pattern. Morgan wondered what had changed, what had prompted this invitation into his personal space. Perhaps the deeper intimacy they’d shared last night had shifted something for him too.
Looking forward to it.
She set her phone down, excitement bubbling through her. Going to Archer’s place meant another layer of mystery being peeled away—another piece of the puzzle that was this enigmatic man who had crashed into her life less than two weeks ago yet already felt essential to her happiness.
The thought brought her up short. Was that what this was? Happiness? The emotion felt almost foreign after months of growing dissatisfaction with her job and the disappointment leading up to Jason’s betrayal.
Morgan pushed the philosophical questions aside and focused on getting ready for work. Friday promised to be busy—the Henderson account still needed damage control, and she had an attorney to call based on Archer’s recommendation.
“Alexandra Winters’ office, how may I help you?”
Morgan adjusted the phone against her ear, trying to sound more confident than she felt. “Hi, my name is Morgan Reeves. I’m calling to see if Ms. Winters might be available for a consultation regarding a corporate fraud matter.”
“May I ask who referred you to our firm?” the receptionist inquired, her tone professionally neutral.
“A friend named Archer,” Morgan replied, realizing too late that she didn’t know his last name. How would she explain that to the receptionist?
To her surprise, there was no request for clarification.
“One moment please,” the receptionist said, placing her on hold.
Less than thirty seconds later, a different voice came on the line—crisp, authoritative, and female. “This is Alexandra Winters. You’re a friend of Archer’s?”
Morgan blinked, startled by the immediate response. “Yes, he recommended you for a situation I’m dealing with at work.”
“I see.” The attorney’s tone warmed slightly. “Archer’s referrals are always a priority. Can you come in today at 11am or tomorrow afternoon? I have a cancellation at 3:30.”
“Yes, absolutely. Tomorrow at 3:30 would work great!” Morgan agreed, surprised at the speed with which things were moving. “Thank you so much.”
“Of course. My assistant will email you the details. See you tomorrow, Ms. Reeves.”
After they hung up, Morgan stood in her kitchen, stunned by the exchange. She’d done a quick search before she made the call, and Alexandra Winters was apparently one of the city’s top corporate attorneys—getting an appointment so soon should have been impossible, especially for someone like Morgan who wasn’t a high-profile client.
Yet a single mention of Archer’s name had bypassed normal protocols. The implications were puzzling. Just how influential was her mysterious lover in his “security consulting” world?
A knock at her office door interrupted her thoughts. Richard stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable.
“Morgan. Just the person I was looking for.” He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “We need to discuss the Henderson situation.”
Morgan straightened in her chair, instantly on guard. “What about it? I sent Mr. Henderson the apology letter as requested, explaining the invoice was sent in error and called him as well.”
