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“I knew I wasn’t going to become the man who could promise it to her.”

Sebastian’s expression stays neutral.

“She figured that out too.”

“Yes,” I reply.

“She deserved the truth,” he says.

“She got it,” I tell him.

Sebastian nods.There is no criticism in his face, which somehow makes the conversation more uncomfortable.

“You know what I think,” he says.

“I do,” I reply.

Sebastian holds my gaze for another second, then lets it go. He doesn’t say her name. He doesn’t need to.

Later that evening, I meet Theo Ashford and Marcus Whitfield in one of the smaller conference rooms overlooking the river. The meeting itself is straightforward. Theo is advising on a financing structure tied to one of our European deals, while Marcus is there because he has been involved with the New York side from the beginning. We spend forty minutes working through the remaining issues, most of which are procedural rather than strategic.

Theo’s phone vibrates halfway through the discussion. He glances at the screen and smiles.

“Take it,” Marcus says.

Theo shakes his head. “I can call her back.”

“If that’s your wife, take it,” I say.

“You’re going to spend the next ten minutes pretending you aren’t thinking about whatever she wants.”

Theo gives me a look and answers.

“Hey,” he says, turning slightly away from the table.

“No, I remembered. I’m leaving here in twenty minutes.”

He listens for a second.

“Yes, I’m picking her up.”

Another pause follows.

“No, I didn’t forget the flowers.”

Marcus looks at me across the table. I raise an eyebrow.

Theo continues, “I know what time the recital starts. I’ll be there before you are.”

He ends the call and puts the phone down.

“Daughter?” I ask.

“School performance,” Theo says.

“If I miss it, I won’t be allowed back into my own house.”

Marcus looks at him. “That seems excessive.”