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00:00:00The pain in my lower back had become such a constant companion that I hardly noticed it anymore.
00:00:06What I did notice, however, was the way my uniform blouse became tighter across my chest with each passing week.
00:00:14The fabric was pressing against buttons that I had already replaced twice.
00:00:19Four and a half months pregnant. And I was running out of ways to hide it.
00:00:25I pressed my palm against the cool marble of the bar and braced myself as a wave of nausea washed over me.
00:00:33I rolled.
00:00:33The smell of roast duck and truffle oil from the kitchen usually made my mouth water.
00:00:41Tonight he made my stomach rebel.
00:00:45Cat
00:00:47"Table twelve needs water," Jennifer called from the reception desk.
00:00:51Her perfectly styled blonde hair didn't move despite the cold draft from the entrance.
00:00:57And Eddie wants to see you before the Wippo group arrives.
00:01:01I nodded and reached for the crystal jug with hands that had become rough from constant washing.
00:01:08My reflection in the polished silver caught my eye.
00:01:12A stranger with brown hair tied back and dark circles under her eyes that couldn't be hidden with any amount of concealer.
00:01:21A year ago I was a completely different person.
00:01:23Someone who wasn't afraid of their own reflection.
00:01:28The Meridian was the kind of restaurant where a single bottle of wine cost what I used to pay for shoes.
00:01:36spent.
00:01:36Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the river.
00:01:41Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over white tablecloths.
00:01:46And the quiet murmur of wealth filled every corner.
00:01:50I moved through like a ghost, refilling glasses, clearing plates, collecting the tips, which barely covered my expenses.
00:01:58It covered the rent.
00:02:00Thompson, Eddie's voice, cut through my thoughts as I passed the kitchen entrance.
00:02:06He stood with his arms folded, his jaw tense with the special tension that meant someone important was arriving.
00:02:15The Robinson group, a table for six in the private alcove, are here for the wine auction preview.
00:02:21My hand found the edge of the service station and gripped it so tightly that my knuckles turned white.
00:02:28Robinson? James Robinson. Eddie's eyes narrowed.
00:02:33You look like you've seen a ghost. Do you know it?
00:02:37The name hit me like a physical blow.
00:02:40I knew that name. I knew the man who bore it.
00:02:44I knew the taste of expensive whisky on his lips and the sound of his laughter in the dark.
00:02:51He knew the weight of promises he never intended to keep.
00:02:55No. I was lying. My voice was firmer than I felt. Just tired.
00:03:01Eddie studied me for another moment. Then he jerked his chin towards the alcove.
00:03:06Well. Wake up. Robinson Crusoe doesn't tolerate mistakes. And neither do I.
00:03:12Jennifer will handle the initial greeting. But you're in the service area.
00:03:17They ordered the 1900 and a Nachtsiger Chateau Margaux.
00:03:22As a starting point. A wine that cost more than I earned in three months.
00:03:28Of course they had. I smoothed down my apron, checked that my blouse still concealed,
00:03:34what she had to hide, and with her heart pounding against my ribs, she walked towards the private niche.
00:03:40Perhaps it wasn't him. Robinson was a fairly common name.
00:03:45Perhaps it was someone else entirely. Some other wealthy man who controlled private niches and vintage wines.
00:03:53The alcove was separated from the main dining room by frosted glass panels and heavy velvet curtains.
00:03:59I could see figures moving behind the partition, hear the deep rumble of male laughter.
00:04:07My hand trembled as I reached for the curtain.
00:04:11"Good evening," I began. My practiced greeting died on my lips as I looked up.
00:04:17He sat at the head of the table, exactly as I knew he would.
00:04:23An anthracite-colored suit that probably cost more than my car.
00:04:29Dark hair, swept back from a face that belonged in magazines or museums.
00:04:35Not into my carefully rebuilt life. His fingers drummed against the white tablecloth.
00:04:42A habit I remembered from late nights when he couldn't sleep.
00:04:47James Robinson.
00:04:49The man who promised me eternity and delivered six months.
00:04:54The man whose child I was carrying, which grew heavier with each passing day.
00:05:00The man I had fled from in the middle of the night, leaving everything behind,
00:05:05except for my grandmother's medallion and the clothes on my body.
00:05:10He looked up and his hand stopped moving. For three heartbeats, neither of us moved.
00:05:16His eyes, dark as espresso, wandered over my face with an intensity that made my skin tingle.
00:05:24I watched as the realization dawned. I watched as his expression shifted from polite acknowledgment to something colder, more dangerous.
00:05:35Catherine.
00:05:36The mere mention of my name in his mouth still had the power to make me tremble.
00:05:41Not Cat, as I had imagined myself at the Meridian.
00:05:44Catherine, just like he had said when we were alone.
00:05:48If I had believed his lies about legitimate business and clean money.
00:05:54The woman next to him, stunning in emerald green silk with diamonds around her neck, looked between us with sharp curiosity and
00:06:03here.
00:06:03Do you know our waitress, darling?
00:06:06We met. His voice was controlled, but I picked up on the harshness beneath it.
00:06:11The warning.
00:06:13Haven't we, Catherine?
00:06:14I forced myself to breathe, to remember where I was. A public place. Cameras. Witnesses.
00:06:21There was nothing he could do here. He wouldn't risk his carefully cultivated image.
00:06:27"I'll get another server for your table," I said, already stepping back.
00:06:33Someone who is familiar with wine selection. His hand shot out and caught my wrist.
00:06:38Not painful. Not entirely. But unmistakably a demand.
00:06:43A reminder that he could reach me whenever he wanted. That won't be necessary.
00:06:49He smiled. The expression didn't reach his eyes.
00:06:53Catherine knows exactly what I like. Doesn't she?
00:06:56The other guests at the table shifted uncomfortably.
00:07:00The woman in emerald green stepped back slightly, pressing her made-up lips into a thin line.
00:07:06But none of them would challenge him. I could see it in the way they avoided his gaze.
00:07:13The cautious neutrality of their mines. Men like James Robinson were not challenged.
00:07:21Of course, sir. I freed my wrist. My skin burned where he had touched it.
00:07:27I'm bringing the Chateau Margaux. I made it to the wine cellar before my legs gave out.
00:07:33The cool, dark room offered no comfort. Only the scent of oak and the distant clinking of bottles.
00:07:39My hands trembled. I pressed them against my stomach, against the secret I had so carefully guarded.
00:07:48He knew it. Of course he knew it. Men like James knew everything, after all.
00:07:53The only question was what he planned to do about it.
00:07:57Above me, the restaurant continued its elegant dance. Glasses clinked. Soft music played.
00:08:04People who had never worried about rent or food, or whether they could afford prenatal vitamins,
00:08:12They were discussing wine vintages and holiday homes. And in the private alcove sat James Robinson with his group.
00:08:19and waited for me to return. Waited, I suppose, to see if I would run again.
00:08:26The 1900th northern aquagatta carrier Chateau Margaux was in its assigned place.
00:08:33The label was flawless. The bottle was worth more than anything I owned.
00:08:38I carefully lifted it, held it as I had been taught, and went back down the stairs to the dining room.
00:08:45up.
00:08:46Back to James. Back to the life I thought I had escaped.
00:08:51My reflection in the mirror of the wine cellar showed a woman in a waitress uniform.
00:08:57Her face was pale, her eyes wide open. But beneath the fear, I saw something else.
00:09:06The same stubborn determination that had carried me through the last four months.
00:09:11The same protective instinct that made me put my hand over my stomach every time I felt fear.
00:09:17I was no longer the naive girl who had believed his promises.
00:09:22I was a mother. And mothers didn't run away. At least not yet.
00:09:27I returned to the alcove with the wine, my professional mask firmly in place.
00:09:33James watched me approach with the focused attention of a predator stalking its prey.
00:09:40The woman in emerald green had moved her chair slightly away from him, creating a small but meaningful distance.
00:09:49I announced the 1989 Chateau Margaux and presented the bottle with steady hands despite the trembling caused by my
00:09:59The innermost part was running.
00:10:00Should I decant it? Or would you like to taste it first?
00:10:05"Decant it," James said. His eyes never left my face. "We'll be here for a while."
00:10:13The double meaning didn't escape me. I poured a small amount into his glass and watched as the deep ruby-red liquid...
00:10:21captured light.
00:10:22He lifted it, inhaled, then took a sip with the casual expertise of someone who had bought a thousand-dollar bottle.
00:10:31He drank wine since before he was allowed to vote.
00:10:34Perfect. His smile was a blade wrapped in silk.
00:10:39As always, you know exactly how to treat me.
00:10:42The woman in emerald green cleared her throat.
00:10:44James.
00:10:46Darling.
00:10:46Perhaps we should discuss the Rothschild collection while...
00:10:51Later, Victoria.
00:10:53He dismissed her with a glance and then turned his attention back to me.
00:10:59Catherine.
00:11:00When does your shift end?
00:11:02Every instinct screamed at me to lie, but I had learned the hard way that James had a talent for it.
00:11:09had to recognize deception.
00:11:11Eleven o'clock, sir. I'll have Patrick wait for you. We have a lot to discuss.
00:11:16That won't be necessary.
00:11:18I finished pouring drinks for the other guests; my movements were automatic.
00:11:23I have plans.
00:11:25Cancel it.
00:11:26The order hung in the air between us.
00:11:29The conversations at the table had died down.
00:11:31Everyone was watching now, even though they pretended not to.
00:11:35That was the kind of gossip that would spread in certain circles until morning.
00:11:41James Robinson is publicly claiming a waitress at the Meridian.
00:11:44No. I really can't.
00:11:46Catherine.
00:11:48He placed his glass down with precise care.
00:11:51Don't make me ask twice.
00:11:54I met his gaze, saw the steel beneath the civilized facade.
00:11:58This was the man who had built an empire through calculated violence and strategic intimidation.
00:12:07The man whose business partners had a habit of disappearing when they became inconvenient.
00:12:13The man I loved before I understood what he really was.
00:12:17At eleven o'clock I quietly gave in.
00:12:20At the service entrance.
00:12:21Am.
00:12:22His smile was a victory I couldn't afford to give him.
00:12:26But I had no choice.
00:12:28Not here.
00:12:29Not now.
00:12:30The rest of their dinner passed in a blur.
00:12:33I mechanically went about my duties.
00:12:36Cleared the plates.
00:12:37Refilled glasses.
00:12:39I pretended not to notice.
00:12:41How James tracked my every move.
00:12:46Viktoria, his companion, became increasingly reserved as the evening progressed.
00:12:53Her laughter was too bright.
00:12:54Her smile was too harsh.
00:12:56At 10:30 a.m., Jennifer pulled me to the side near the receiving pulse.
00:13:01What's wrong with table 12?
00:13:04Victoria Crawford just asked me who you are.
00:13:07Victoria Crawford?
00:13:09The name meant nothing to me.
00:13:11James Robinson's fiancée.
00:13:13Jennifer's eyes were filled with curiosity and worry.
00:13:16The wedding is supposed to be next month.
00:13:19It's everywhere in the society pages.
00:13:21The ground tilted beneath me.
00:13:23Fiancée.
00:13:24Wedding.
00:13:25Next month.
00:13:26I need to take my break.
00:13:28I brought it forth.
00:13:29My voice came from somewhere far away.
00:13:32I made it to the staff toilet before the nausea hit.
00:13:37When I was finally able to stand, I gripped the sink and stared at my reflection.
00:13:43to.
00:13:43The woman looking at me was a stranger.
00:13:46Pale.
00:13:47Terrified.
00:13:48Caught.
00:13:49My phone buzzed in my apron pocket.
00:13:52An unknown number.
00:13:53Don't even think about running away.
00:13:56Patrick is already watching the exits.
00:13:58We both know how this ends.
00:14:00My hands were shaking as I deleted the message.
00:14:03He had been watching me.
00:14:05How long has it been?
00:14:06Days?
00:14:08Weeks?
00:14:09How could I not have noticed?
00:14:11Another message arrived immediately.
00:14:14Four months.
00:14:15That's my calculation.
00:14:17Is it mine?
00:14:18I turned off my phone.
00:14:20My breath came in short gasps.
00:14:22He knew it.
00:14:24He had known since the moment he saw me this evening.
00:14:28I probably already knew it before.
00:14:30He was probably waiting for the perfect moment to corner me.
00:14:36Eddie appeared in the doorway of the toilet.
00:14:39His expression was ambivalent.
00:14:42Thompson, Mr. Robinson specifically asked for you to present the dessert wine.
00:14:48He ordered the Chateau de Chem.
00:14:50Another impossibly expensive bottle.
00:14:53Another excuse to keep me close to him.
00:14:56"Of course," I said, splashing cold water on my face.
00:15:00I'll come right away.
00:15:01My private niche felt smaller when I returned.
00:15:05The other guests had left.
00:15:07Only James and Victoria were left.
00:15:10She sat rigidly in her chair.
00:15:12Their diamonds caught the light like shards of ice.
00:15:17James leaned back.
00:15:18Completely relaxed.
00:15:20A man who had never doubted his control over any situation.
00:15:25I announced the Chateau de Chem and poured the golden dessert wine with hands that had stopped moving through sheer willpower.
00:15:33They were trembling.
00:15:34Victoria's fingers curled against her napkin.
00:15:38James, I want to leave now.
00:15:40I have an early appointment in the morning.
00:15:43Patrick will take you home.
00:15:45He didn't look at her.
00:15:46His focus was entirely on me.
00:15:49I'll meet you tomorrow.
00:15:50I would prefer it if you came with me.
00:15:53Her voice carried a sharpness of despair.
00:15:56Victoria.
00:15:57The single word was quiet, but it carried enough warning that she turned pale.
00:16:03Patrick.
00:16:04Now.
00:16:04She stood up, gathering her gossip and her cloak with brittle dignity.
00:16:10As she walked past me, she leaned close enough that I could smell her perfume.
00:16:16Something French, flowery, and expensive.
00:16:21Whatever you think you're doing, she whispered.
00:16:24It won't end well for you.
00:16:27James is always bored with his distractions.
00:16:30Then she was gone.
00:16:32Her heels clicked on the marble as she fled.
00:16:35I was alone with James.
00:16:37He stood up, moved around the table with the flowing grace I remembered all too well.
00:16:44Up close I could see the details I had tried to forget.
00:16:48The small scar above his left eyebrow is from a childhood accident.
00:16:53The way his jaw tensed when he was angry.
00:16:57The exact shading of his eyes in low light.
00:17:01Four and a half months, he corrected quietly.
00:17:04I've had you watched since you left.
00:17:08Did you really think I wouldn't notice if you started showing it?
00:17:13My hand instinctively moved to my stomach.
00:17:17Protective.
00:17:17I don't want anything from you.
00:17:19No.
00:17:21His fingers caught my chin, tilting my face upwards.
00:17:25There was no violence involved in the touch.
00:17:27But the threat of it hung in the air between us.
00:17:31Why keep it then?
00:17:32Why not free yourself from the inconvenience?
00:17:36It is not an inconvenience.
00:17:38The words came out wildly, protectively.
00:17:41It belongs to me.
00:17:42There was a flicker in his expression.
00:17:44She?
00:17:45I hadn't intended to reveal that.
00:17:48I didn't want to give him any more information than he already had.
00:17:52But the truth was out now.
00:17:54It hung between us like a challenge.
00:17:57A daughter.
00:17:58His hand moved from my chin to my stomach.
00:18:02He pressed against the small bulge with ownerly certainty.
00:18:06My daughter.
00:18:08I stepped back, but he followed.
00:18:11I pressed myself against the window wall overlooking the river.
00:18:15The city glittered below us, oblivious to the confrontation taking place in this expensive niche.
00:18:23"Tomorrow," he said, his voice soft and absolutely certain.
00:18:28Patrick will pick you up from your apartment.
00:18:31You will move into the penthouse.
00:18:33You will have everything you need.
00:18:35Doctors.
00:18:36Clothing.
00:18:37Security.
00:18:38Truth.
00:18:38You and my child will lack nothing.
00:18:42I'm not going anywhere with you.
00:18:44His smile was cold.
00:18:46Catherine.
00:18:47Sweet, stubborn Catherine.
00:18:49You were being watched tonight.
00:18:51Do you know how many people?
00:18:54Seven.
00:18:55Seven of my men.
00:18:57Positioned throughout the restaurant, they tracked your every move.
00:19:02Did you notice the new top seller that started last week?
00:19:07Mine.
00:19:08The valley where you park your car.
00:19:11Mine.
00:19:12The woman who moved into the apartment across the hall from yours?
00:19:15Mine too.
00:19:17Horror crept up my spine.
00:19:20You were watching me the whole time.
00:19:22I protected what was mine.
00:19:24He leaned closer.
00:19:26His breath warm against my ear.
00:19:29You can come voluntarily tomorrow.
00:19:31Or Patrick might be less gentle during the pickup.
00:19:35Your choice.
00:19:36This is kidnapping.
00:19:38This is family.
00:19:39He withdrew.
00:19:41He adjusted his cuffs with casual precision.
00:19:45Eleven o'clock, fifteen o'clock.
00:19:47Don't keep Patrick waiting.
00:19:49Then he was gone, leaving me alone with the remains of their dinner and the debris.
00:19:55my carefully rebuilt life.
00:19:58My phone buzzed.
00:20:00Another message from the unknown number.
00:20:03Apartment 4B, 1247 Riverside Avenue.
00:20:08Margaret Davies waters a plant on Tuesdays.
00:20:11She has a grandson in Boston who never calls.
00:20:14You take bus number 7 to work.
00:20:17Your favorite breakfast is black coffee and whatever is cheapest at the corner shop.
00:20:22Should I continue?
00:20:23I sank into a chair.
00:20:26My legs finally gave out.
00:20:28He knew everything.
00:20:29Every detail of my small, humble life.
00:20:33And now he offered me a choice that wasn't really a choice at all.
00:20:38To come voluntarily into his golden cage or to be dragged there by force.
00:20:43Either way, I belonged to him again.
00:20:46I didn't go home that night.
00:20:48Instead, I took the bus to Margaret's apartment and climbed the familiar stairs.
00:20:54My heart was still racing from James' ultimatum.
00:20:57She opened the door in her nightgown.
00:21:00Her weathered face creased with worry.
00:21:03Cat?
00:21:04It's almost midnight.
00:21:06What's up?
00:21:07Can I stay here tonight?
00:21:09The words came out small, frightened.
00:21:13Please, Margaret.
00:21:14I'll explain everything.
00:21:16But I simply need a safe place.
00:21:19She pulled me inside without hesitation, sat me down on her worn sofa with a blanket and chamomile tea,
00:21:25which I couldn't drink.
00:21:27My stomach was too tense with fear to accept anything.
00:21:32"Tell me," she said simply, and sat down next to me.
00:21:36So I did it.
00:21:37Not everything.
00:21:39Not the whole truth about James' business dealings or the real reason why I fled.
00:21:44But enough.
00:21:46That I had been with someone powerful.
00:21:49That I left when I discovered I was pregnant.
00:21:52That he had found me this evening and demanded that I return.
00:21:58Margaret's expression became grim.
00:22:00Men like this don't let go easily.
00:22:02I know.
00:22:03I wrapped my hands around the teacup, searching for warmth I couldn't find.
00:22:08But I cannot return to that life, Margaret.
00:22:12I cannot raise my daughter in this world.
00:22:15"Then you must disappear," she said quietly.
00:22:18Completely disappear.
00:22:20Change your name.
00:22:21Leave the city.
00:22:23Go somewhere he would never think to look.
00:22:26I had considered it.
00:22:28Of course I had considered it.
00:22:30But James' text message had made the impossibility clear.
00:22:34He had found me once.
00:22:36He would find me again.
00:22:37And next time he might not be so patient.
00:22:40"I have a cousin in Montana," Margaret continued.
00:22:44Her voice took on a determined sharpness.
00:22:48Remote ranch.
00:22:49She takes in women who have to disappear.
00:22:52If you want, I can make a call.
00:22:55Hope flickered, fragile as candlelight.
00:22:59Would she help me?
00:23:01She has already helped others.
00:23:03Margaret squeezed my hand.
00:23:05But Kat, you have to understand.
00:23:07Once you embark on this path, there is no turning back.
00:23:11You would have to leave everything behind.
00:23:13This job.
00:23:14This city.
00:23:15Your entire identity.
00:23:17My hand moved towards my stomach.
00:23:20To the daughter who grew up there.
00:23:22What kind of life could I give her?
00:23:24Always on the run.
00:23:26Always looking over my shoulder.
00:23:28But what kind of life would she have in James' world?
00:23:30surrounded by violence and corruption?
00:23:33I was still struggling with the decision,
00:23:35when my phone rang at six o'clock in the morning.
00:23:38An unknown number.
00:23:40But I already knew who it was.
00:23:43Good morning, Catherine.
00:23:44James' voice was smooth.
00:23:46Cosmopolitan.
00:23:47I trust that you slept well.
00:23:51How did you know I wasn't home?
00:23:54Because Patrick has been since 11:30 yesterday evening
00:23:56sitting in front of Margaret Davies' building.
00:23:58Did you really think I wouldn't follow you?
00:24:02I felt cold.
00:24:03Let Margaret out of there, then come home.
00:24:06Patrick will drive you to pick up your things.
00:24:08and then take you to the penthouse.
00:24:10Simply.
00:24:11And what if I refuse?
00:24:13The silence that followed was more threatening.
00:24:16than they could have been any words.
00:24:19I would prefer not to discuss the alternatives.
00:24:21he said finally.
00:24:23But I will do it if you force me to.
00:24:27Should we start with Margaret's grandchildren?
00:24:29The one in Boston who is struggling with his loan for his small business?
00:24:34A word from me to the right people.
00:24:37And his application is rejected.
00:24:39Or perhaps we'll discuss your friend Jennifer in the Meridian.
00:24:44Single mother.
00:24:45Two children.
00:24:46Her ex-husband was remarkably consistent with alimony payments, wasn't he?
00:24:51It would be regrettable if he suddenly ran into legal problems.
00:24:55You are threatening innocent people.
00:24:56I protect my family.
00:24:59His voice hardened.
00:25:01You.
00:25:02Our daughter.
00:25:03That is my priority.
00:25:05All the others are simply motivation for you to make the right choice.
00:25:10Margaret had listened.
00:25:12Her face grew paler with every word.
00:25:14that she could hear through the telephone.
00:25:17Now she took it from my trembling hand.
00:25:19"Mr. Robinson," she said firmly.
00:25:22This is Margaret Davis.
00:25:24I'm the one who suggested Kat hide.
00:25:27If you want to threaten someone, threaten me.
00:25:31I could hear James laughing through the loudspeaker.
00:25:34Mrs. Davis.
00:25:35How noble, but unnecessary.
00:25:37Catherine is already making the right decision.
00:25:40Isn't that right, Catherine?
00:25:42Margaret handed back the phone, her eyes filled with resignation.
00:25:46Resignation.
00:25:47She knew, as did I, that there was no victory in this fight.
00:25:52What are your conditions?
00:25:53I asked.
00:25:55My voice is hollow.
00:25:56Conditions?
00:25:57He sounded almost amused.
00:25:59This is not a negotiation.
00:26:01Everything is a negotiation.
00:26:03I forced steel into my voice.
00:26:04You want me to come voluntarily.
00:26:07Don't make a scene, act as if it's my choice.
00:26:10This has value for you.
00:26:12So what are you willing to give me in exchange?
00:26:14Another silence, this one thoughtful.
00:26:18"You're right," he finally said.
00:26:22What do you want?
00:26:23Margaret remains safe.
00:26:25Jennifer keeps her job.
00:26:27Anyone who has helped me these past few months is untouchable.
00:26:32Agreed.
00:26:33What else?
00:26:34My own room.
00:26:36We don't share a bed.
00:26:39For the time being, he gave in.
00:26:41Until you remember why you fell in love with me in the first place.
00:26:46The arrogance in his voice made me grit my teeth.
00:26:50I will need my own doctor.
00:26:52Someone I choose.
00:26:54Not someone on your payroll.
00:26:56The doctor I arranged is the best in town.
00:27:01Okay.
00:27:02Choose your own.
00:27:04I'll pay.
00:27:05And when the baby was born, my voice faltered.
00:27:09Once she's born, I want guarantees.
00:27:12Regarding their safety.
00:27:14About keeping them away from your business.
00:27:17She will be a Robinson, Catherine.
00:27:19This brings with it certain realities.
00:27:21But I promise you, she will never see violence.
00:27:25Never be in danger.
00:27:26I will build walls around them.
00:27:28So thick that nothing can touch them.
00:27:32Walls or a cage?
00:27:33I asked bitterly.
00:27:35For me, there's very little difference.
00:27:37At least he was honest.
00:27:39But she will be safe.
00:27:41Loved.
00:27:42Every opportunity is given.
00:27:44Can you promise her the same?
00:27:46while you're working double shifts at Meridian?
00:27:49The blow landed exactly where he had intended.
00:27:53He was right.
00:27:54And we both knew it.
00:27:55I could barely afford prenatal care.
00:27:58How would I manage childcare?
00:28:01A safe neighborhood.
00:28:03The kind of future every mother wishes for her child?
00:28:07"One more thing," I said.
00:28:10My throat feels tight.
00:28:11I want to know the truth.
00:28:14About what happened that night.
00:28:16About why you never told me what you really did.
00:28:21That is not a point for negotiation.
00:28:23That's a conversation for later.
00:28:26No.
00:28:27Now.
00:28:28Before I agree to anything, I need to understand.
00:28:31He was silent for so long that I thought he had hung up.
00:28:34Then.
00:28:35I'll tell you.
00:28:37Tonight.
00:28:39After you've settled into the penthouse.
00:28:41The whole truth, Catherine.
00:28:43Everything you think you know.
00:28:45And everything you don't know.
00:28:47Is that fair?
00:28:49It wasn't fair.
00:28:50Nothing about it was fair.
00:28:52But it was the best offer I could get.
00:28:55"Patrick can pick me up at noon," I said.
00:28:58I need time to pack.
00:29:00To say goodbye.
00:29:01Lunchtime works?
00:29:03And Catherine?
00:29:04His voice softened almost imperceptibly.
00:29:08I know this isn't how you wanted things to go.
00:29:11But I meant what I said.
00:29:14You and our daughter will lack nothing.
00:29:17That includes freedom.
00:29:19Within reasonable limits.
00:29:20I am not your prison guard.
00:29:23Only my kidnapper.
00:29:24Your protector.
00:29:25The correction came immediately.
00:29:28There is a difference.
00:29:30He hung up before I could argue.
00:29:33Margaret pulled me into a tight hug.
00:29:36You don't have to do that.
00:29:38We can still run away.
00:29:39But I could see the fear in her eyes.
00:29:42The understanding that running away would only endanger her and everyone else who was important to me.
00:29:49James had built his empire on knowing people's pressure points.
00:29:55To understand exactly which threats would achieve obedience.
00:30:00He had learned mine the moment I placed my hand over my stomach.
00:30:06"I have to," I whispered.
00:30:08For her.
00:30:09Patrick arrived at noon in a black Mercedes.
00:30:12It looked like it cost more than Margaret's building.
00:30:16He was exactly as I remembered him.
00:30:19Broadly shouldered.
00:30:21Expressionless.
00:30:21The kind of man who had followed orders his entire life without questioning them.
00:30:28"Miss Thompson," he said, and opened the door.
00:30:32Mr. Robinson is waiting.
00:30:33I got in, leaving behind the little life I had built, and stepped back into the gilded cage, the
00:30:42I had such a hard time escaping.
00:30:44The penthouse loomed before us, all glass and steel and expensive views.
00:30:49And somewhere inside, James was waiting to give me the truth I had demanded.
00:30:54I wasn't sure if I was ready to listen to them.
00:30:58The penthouse occupied the entire top floor of a building that I had only ever seen from street level.
00:31:06Patrick rode with me in the elevator in silence.
00:31:09His presence was a reminder that I was watched, controlled, never truly alone.
00:31:16As the doors opened directly into the foyer, I stepped out into a world that felt both familiar and
00:31:24also felt strange.
00:31:25I had been here six months ago, laughed in this kitchen, made love in this bedroom,
00:31:34He stood at these floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the sunrise over the city,
00:31:39While James explained his plans for expansion, carefully prepared plans,
00:31:45who had omitted the violence and corruption that they financed.
00:31:49Catherine. He came out of the living room, casually dressed in dark trousers and a white shirt with the top buttons undone.
00:31:58The informality somehow made him more dangerous, more intimate.
00:32:02Welcome home. This is not a home.
00:32:05I put down my only suitcase. Everything I owned fit into one bag.
00:32:11This is a temporary agreement. His smile suggested he disagreed.
00:32:17Patrick, that's all. I'll call you if I need you. We were alone.
00:32:22The penthouse suddenly felt smaller, the air charged with everything unspoken between us.
00:32:29"Is your room ready?" James said, gesturing down a corridor I remembered all too well.
00:32:36I had everything prepared that you might need. Maternity clothes in your size.
00:32:43Pregnancy vitamins. Books about pregnancy, if you want them.
00:32:47How considerate. The sarcasm felt like armor. Thin, but necessary.
00:32:54My own golden cage. Your own space, he corrected, coming closer.
00:32:59As promised. Although I hope you won't feel the need to hide from me for long.
00:33:07I stepped back. I kept my distance. You promised me the truth. About that night. About everything.
00:33:14His expression became serious.
00:33:17I have that. Would you like something to drink first?
00:33:20You haven't eaten anything since last night. How do you know that?
00:33:24Because I know you, Catherine. You're stubborn. You skip meals when you're stressed.
00:33:31You chew on your lower lip when you're nervous.
00:33:34His eyes fell on my mouth. He caught me in the act of doing exactly that.
00:33:40And right now you are scared.
00:33:42In front of you, I made clear.
00:33:44I'm afraid of you. Something flickered in his expression.
00:33:48Pain, perhaps? Or regret?
00:33:50Then let me help you with that. Come on, sit down.
00:33:55I order lunch and we talk.
00:33:57He led me to the dining room.
00:34:00A room that I once considered elegant, but now found oppressive.
00:34:05The table had room for twelve, but felt intimate with only two chairs pushed close together.
00:34:12The city spread out below us through the windows.
00:34:16People went about their lives, completely unaware of the conversation taking place in this expensive tower.
00:34:24"I met you at the opening of the Harrington Gallery," he began, as we sat down.
00:34:29You were there with your friend from the museum.
00:34:32You looked at the Rotko.
00:34:34And you said it reminded you of your grandmother's description of the ocean during a storm.
00:34:41Do you remember?
00:34:42I did. That was the moment.
00:34:46Not when he had introduced himself, but when he had understood the reference.
00:34:51He had engaged with art in a way that suggested genuine appreciation, rather than investment potential.
00:34:59"I knew who you were," he continued.
00:35:02Catherine Thompson, museum curator, Master's degree in art history.
00:35:08Your grandmother raised you after your parents died.
00:35:11You lived modestly, cautiously.
00:35:15With the kind of dignity that comes from having once had more and learning to appreciate less.
00:35:22You examined me back then, too.
00:35:25I always research people I'm interested in.
00:35:28That's survival in my world.
00:35:30Poured sparkling water into crystal glasses.
00:35:32What I didn't expect was to actually fall in love with you.
00:35:36That was the complication I hadn't planned for.
00:35:40So you lied to me instead.
00:35:42I skipped it.
00:35:44His distinction was meaningless.
00:35:46I told you I was in the import/export department.
00:35:49That's true.
00:35:50I told you I had business interests all over the city.
00:35:54That's true too.
00:35:55What I didn't tell you was that these interests, protection, influence, included the kind of power that operated in the shadows.
00:36:04operated on.
00:36:07"Criminal enterprise," I corrected myself flatly.
00:36:10Tell me what it really is.
00:36:12"Criminal enterprise," he agreed without batting an eyelid.
00:36:16Criminal enterprise, established by my grandfather during Prohibition, expanded by my father.
00:36:22Now managed by me.
00:36:24We have diversified over the years.
00:36:27Most of our operations are now legal.
00:36:30But what about the foundation?
00:36:32The connections that give us real power.
00:36:35They came from blood and fear.
00:36:37I had suspected as much.
00:36:39Naturally.
00:36:40I had ignored the nighttime phone calls.
00:36:43The way people treated him with a deference that went beyond respect.
00:36:48I had convinced myself that I was paranoid.
00:36:51That successful businessmen have always had enemies and complications.
00:36:57"That night," I said softly.
00:36:59The night I left.
00:37:01I heard you on the phone.
00:37:03I know.
00:37:04You were talking about a man who needed to be handled.
00:37:07You said it should look like an accident.
00:37:09To ensure there were no witnesses.
00:37:12The memory still made me sick.
00:37:14I left while you were in the shower.
00:37:18Took a taxi to the bus station.
00:37:20I used cash so you couldn't track my card.
00:37:24Marcus Donnelly.
00:37:26James said the name as if it meant nothing.
00:37:30He stole from me.
00:37:31Embezzled funds through a shell company, which he thought I wouldn't notice.
00:37:37The handling you heard about was his retirement package.
00:37:40A generous severance package and a one-way ticket to Ecuador, where he could spend his days in comfort for as long as he
00:37:49never returned.
00:37:50I stared at him.
00:37:51You didn't kill him?
00:37:53I don't kill people because they steal money, Catherine.
00:37:57I solve problems.
00:37:58Mostly through negotiation.
00:38:00Occasionally by force.
00:38:02Rarely through violence.
00:38:04Markus was allowed to live because he was smart enough to cooperate when confronted.
00:38:09But you killed.
00:38:10It wasn't a question.
00:38:12Yes.
00:38:13No hesitation.
00:38:14No excuses.
00:38:15Three times.
00:38:15Once in self-defense, when I was 19.
00:38:19Once, to protect my sister from a man who would have destroyed her.
00:38:25Once because someone touched something that belonged to me, and I couldn't leave that unanswered.
00:38:32The casual confession should have horrified me more than it did.
00:38:37Maybe I was too deaf.
00:38:38Perhaps a part of me had always known it.
00:38:41And now?
00:38:42I asked.
00:38:43What am I to you?
00:38:45Another possession to protect?
00:38:47Another problem to solve?
00:38:50He leaned forward, his gaze intense.
00:38:53You are the mother of my child.
00:38:55The only woman I have ever loved.
00:38:58The one person who saw me as something other than a weapon or a wallet.
00:39:03His hand reached across the table.
00:39:06Stopped just before touching mine.
00:39:08I let you go once, Catherine.
00:39:11I've convinced myself that you were safer without me.
00:39:14That was my mistake.
00:39:15I won't do it again.
00:39:17Even if I don't want to be here.
00:39:19Especially then.
00:39:20His certainty was absolute.
00:39:22Because wanting and needing are different things.
00:39:25You may not want my protection.
00:39:28But you need him.
00:39:29Our daughter needs him.
00:39:31And I protect what belongs to me.
00:39:34"It's not yours," I said.
00:39:37Even though we both knew it was a lie.
00:39:40It belongs to me.
00:39:41It belongs to us.
00:39:43The correction was gentle, but immobile.
00:39:46And I will give her everything I never had.
00:39:49Security.
00:39:50Legitimacy.
00:39:51A father who is present.
00:39:54A future without shadows.
00:39:56By keeping us in a cage.
00:39:58By keeping you alive.
00:40:00He stood up, moved around the table, and squatted down next to my chair.
00:40:06From this close range, I could see the exhaustion around his eyes.
00:40:10The tension he carried in his shoulders.
00:40:13There are people who would hurt you to get to me.
00:40:17People who would see our daughter as a means of exerting pressure.
00:40:21I cannot allow this.
00:40:22His hand finally made contact, resting on the table above mine.
00:40:28The touch sent electricity through me.
00:40:31Memory and desire became entangled with fear.
00:40:34I know.
00:40:36"I can't make you love me again," he said softly.
00:40:40I know.
00:40:42Trust.
00:40:43Once broken.
00:40:45It's not easy to repair.
00:40:47But I can keep you safe.
00:40:49I can give our daughter every advantage.
00:40:52And maybe in time you'll remember why you fell in love with me in the first place.
00:40:57"I've fallen in love with a lie," I whispered.
00:41:01No.
00:41:02His thumb drew circles on my wrist.
00:41:06You have fallen in love with the man I am when I am with you.
00:41:09The parts of me that only exist when you are near.
00:41:14That was never a lie, Catherine.
00:41:16That was the truest version of myself I've ever been.
00:41:20The following days established a routine that I had not expected.
00:41:25James left early every morning.
00:41:27His business required attention.
00:41:30Even though he took the time to check on me.
00:41:32He had hired a chef who prepared meals specifically for pregnancy cravings,
00:41:38which I had not admitted to having.
00:41:41A doctor, my choice as promised, visited me twice a week to monitor the baby's development.
00:41:49I had my own room as agreed.
00:41:51But I found myself drawn to the common areas.
00:41:55The library, filled with first editions, the touching of which I had only dreamed of.
00:42:00The balcony, where the city spread out below us, like a promise or a threat.
00:42:07"You're reading Austen again," James remarked one evening, finding me snuggled in an armchair, reading Pride and Prejudice.
00:42:16The third time this month.
00:42:18It is comforting.
00:42:19I didn't look up sideways.
00:42:21Predictable.
00:42:22Unlike your current situation, he sat down in the armchair opposite me.
00:42:28Whisky in hand.
00:42:30I spoke with your former employer today.
00:42:33Eddie sends his regards.
00:42:34My head jerked up.
00:42:35You didn't hurt him.
00:42:37I bought the restaurant.
00:42:39His smile was light.
00:42:41Together with three others in the same ownership group.
00:42:44Eddie now manages all four locations.
00:42:47Significant salary increase.
00:42:49Better performance.
00:42:51He seemed pleased.
00:42:52You can't just buy your way out of every problem.
00:42:55I can.
00:42:56Actually.
00:42:57It is remarkably effective.
00:43:00He sipped his whisky, watching me over the rim of the glass.
00:43:06Jennifer also received a promotion.
00:43:09Assistant Manager.
00:43:10Your childcare costs are now covered by the employee benefits package that I have restructured.
00:43:18Why?
00:43:19The question came out more pointedly than intended.
00:43:22Why do you care about her?
00:43:24I don't.
00:43:26His honesty was brutal.
00:43:28I'll take care of you.
00:43:30They are important to you.
00:43:32Therefore, they have my protection.
00:43:34It's simple math.
00:43:36I put my book down, unable to concentrate on fictional romance when my own reality was so complicated.
00:43:45Viktoria came to see me today.
00:43:47His expression did not change, but something dangerous flickered in his eyes.
00:43:52Did she?
00:43:53She wanted to discuss wedding plans.
00:43:55They seemed surprised to find me living here.
00:43:58I kept my voice neutral.
00:44:00Clinical.
00:44:01She implied that I was temporary.
00:44:04A distraction you would tire of once the baby was born.
00:44:09Victoria Crawford is no longer relevant to my plans.
00:44:12He placed his glass down with precise care.
00:44:16The engagement was business-related.
00:44:18Her father controls significant real estate holdings.
00:44:21Marriage would have been advantageous.
00:44:24What if?
00:44:25I terminated the agreement three days ago.
00:44:28Her father was not pleased, but he understood.
00:44:31Family comes first.
00:44:33The casual way he discussed breaking off an engagement made my stomach turn.
00:44:39You can't just rearrange people's lives like chess pieces.
00:44:44I've been doing exactly that for five years.
00:44:47He got up and went to stand by the windows.
00:44:51Viktoria knew what she was getting herself into.
00:44:53The marriage was a transaction.
00:44:56Nothing more.
00:44:57She will find another advantageous match within six months.
00:45:02And what am I?
00:45:04I demanded.
00:45:05Another transaction?
00:45:07He turned around, his expression unreadable.
00:45:11You are the mother of my child.
00:45:13My daughter's future.
00:45:15The only person who has ever made me want something beyond power and control.
00:45:21He came closer.
00:45:22Every step measured.
00:45:24You are the complication I never planned for, Catherine.
00:45:28The weakness I cannot afford, but will not eliminate.
00:45:32"How romantic," I said bitterly.
00:45:36I am your weakness.
00:45:37Are you.
00:45:39He stopped just close enough for me to smell his cologne, to feel the heat of his presence.
00:45:46And that scares me more than any business rival or legal threat, because I would burn this entire city down to
00:45:55to keep you safe.
00:45:56And this kind of vulnerability is dangerous in my world.
00:46:00His hand moved to my stomach, resting there with a possessiveness that should have angered me, but instead brought warmth.
00:46:10spread through my chest.
00:46:12"She's performing today," I said quietly.
00:46:15During the ultrasound, Dr. Harrison said she was developing perfectly.
00:46:20Something softened in his face.
00:46:23Genuine emotion broke through the controlled exterior.
00:46:27May I?
00:46:28He asked.
00:46:30His hand was already there, but somehow waiting for permission.
00:46:34I nodded, and he knelt down, bringing his face to the level of my stomach.
00:46:39His hands spread across the curve, gently despite their capacity for violence.
00:46:46"Hello, little one," he murmured.
00:46:49Your mother is stubborn.
00:46:50Here's what you should know about her.
00:46:52She is wild and intelligent and far too good for me.
00:46:55His thumb traced a slow circle.
00:46:58But I will still try to be worthy of both of you.
00:47:03The tenderness in his voice undid something within me.
00:47:07That was the James I had fallen in love with.
00:47:10The one who existed in quiet moments, when the armor fell away and I could see the man beneath the shout.
00:47:18"She needs a name," I said gently.
00:47:21We can no longer call her the baby.
00:47:24"Grace," he said immediately.
00:47:27After your grandmother.
00:47:29I stared at him.
00:47:31Shocked that he remembered.
00:47:33That he had paid attention to the stories I had told during our short time together.
00:47:39You want to name her after my grandmother?
00:47:42She raised an extraordinary woman.
00:47:45I would be honored to give our daughter her name.
00:47:49He looked up at me, still kneeling.
00:47:52Unless you have a different preference.
00:47:55Grace, I repeated, testing the name.
00:47:59Grace Robinson.
00:48:01Grace Thompson Robinson, he corrected.
00:48:04Your name is also important.
00:48:05The gesture was small, but it felt significant.
00:48:10An acknowledgment that I existed beyond my role as the mother of his child.
00:48:15James.
00:48:16His name felt foreign on my tongue after months of avoiding it.
00:48:21What happens when she is born?
00:48:23What kind of life will she have?
00:48:26He stood up and gently helped me to my feet.
00:48:30Secure.
00:48:32Legitimate.
00:48:32I have transferred more operations to legitimate companies.
00:48:37In five years, the name Robinson will be associated with hotels and restaurants.
00:48:42Not with extortion rackets.
00:48:44She will inherit a clean legacy.
00:48:47And until then.
00:48:48Until then.
00:48:50She is protected by every resource I have.
00:48:53Nobody will touch them.
00:48:55Nobody will even know that it exists.
00:48:57Until I am ready to reveal them.
00:49:00His jaw tensed.
00:49:02I've made enemies, Catherine.
00:49:04I'm not going to pretend it's any different.
00:49:07But these enemies will never get close enough to threaten our family.
00:49:12Our family.
00:49:13The words hung between us, simultaneously comforting and terrifying.
00:49:18"I want her to have choices," I said.
00:49:22To be more than just a Robinson heiress.
00:49:25To be your own person.
00:49:27She will be.
00:49:29His hand cupped my face.
00:49:31Thumb stroke across my cheekbone.
00:49:34She will have everything we can give her.
00:49:37Your intelligence.
00:49:39Your intelligence.
00:49:39My resources.
00:49:41To become freedom.
00:49:42Whoever she wants to be.
00:49:44Even if she wants nothing to do with your world.
00:49:48Especially then.
00:49:49His smile was slight, but genuine.
00:49:52I became who I am because I had no choice.
00:49:54My father's legacy demanded it.
00:49:58Grace will have choices.
00:50:00I promise you that.
00:50:02I wanted to believe him.
00:50:03Wanted to trust that the man who had built an empire on fear and power,
00:50:09He could also be a father who valued freedom and autonomy.
00:50:15But trust was a fragile thing.
00:50:18And he had already broken it once.
00:50:21"I'll try," I finally said.
00:50:23To get used to this.
00:50:25Believe you.
00:50:26But you have to understand.
00:50:28Every day I'm here feels like I'm losing more of myself.
00:50:34Then we will find ways to return pieces.
00:50:39He pressed a kiss to my forehead.
00:50:41Chaste and tender.
00:50:43Tell me what you need.
00:50:44I have to work.
00:50:46To have a purpose beyond waiting for Grace's arrival.
00:50:50The museum fired you when you left.
00:50:52But I could arrange it.
00:50:54No.
00:50:55I cut him off.
00:50:57Nothing you arrange.
00:50:59Something I choose.
00:51:01Something that belongs to me.
00:51:02He studied me for a long moment.
00:51:05Then he nodded.
00:51:06I will have Patrick drive you to job interviews.
00:51:09But security remains.
00:51:11It was a compromise.
00:51:12A small crack in the cage.
00:51:15But there was something.
00:51:16Three weeks later I had established a new rhythm.
00:51:20Mornings spent as a remote consultant for a small gallery in Brooklyn.
00:51:25A job I found myself.
00:51:28Although I suspected that James had somehow paved the way.
00:51:33Afternoons spent preparing for Grace's arrival.
00:51:36Her children's room slowly took shape with furniture that I had chosen.
00:51:40Colors that I had chosen.
00:51:42And evenings with James, when the businessman facade fell away and I caught a glimpse of the man I had fallen in love with.
00:51:49"She will be beautiful," he said one evening.
00:51:53His hand rested on my stomach as we sat on the sofa.
00:51:57Now seven months pregnant.
00:52:00Grace's movements were visible through my skin.
00:52:03Like her mother.
00:52:04Or stubborn like her father.
00:52:06I placed my hand over his and led it to where Grace was practicing her kickboxing.
00:52:12She is active tonight.
00:52:14She is preparing for her debut.
00:52:17His smile was soft.
00:52:19Unprotected.
00:52:19Dr. Harrison said two more months.
00:52:2263 days, I corrected myself.
00:52:25Not that I'm counting.
00:52:26Nervous?
00:52:27Terrified.
00:52:28The confession came more easily now.
00:52:30What if I'm not ready?
00:52:32What if I can't protect her the way she needs to be protected?
00:52:36You won't have to do it alone.
00:52:38His arm circled me.
00:52:41Be careful with my belly.
00:52:43I will be there.
00:52:45For every moment.
00:52:46Every feeding.
00:52:47Every nightmare.
00:52:49I'm not going anywhere, Catherine.
00:52:51I leaned back against him.
00:52:53It allowed me the comfort I had resisted for so long.
00:52:57You've been different lately.
00:52:59Softer.
00:53:00You make me soft.
00:53:02He pressed a kiss to my temple.
00:53:04It's dangerous for a man in my position.
00:53:07But I guess I don't care.
00:53:10What about Victoria?
00:53:12Your father?
00:53:14Crawford accepted a substantial severance payment.
00:53:17The real estate deal went through without the marriage.
00:53:20Everyone got what they needed.
00:53:22His voice hardened slightly.
00:53:25And Victoria was encouraged to look for opportunities in Europe.
00:53:29Permanently.
00:53:30I didn't ask what "encouraged" meant.
00:53:33Some things are better left unknown.
00:53:35My phone rang.
00:53:37Shattered the peaceful moment.
00:53:39An unknown number.
00:53:41But when I answered, the voice was frighteningly familiar.
00:53:45Catherine Thompson.
00:53:46The accent was Russian.
00:53:48The tone was casual.
00:53:50Or should I say Catherine Robinson?
00:53:53I understand.
00:53:55Congratulations are in order.
00:53:57James stopped dead behind me.
00:53:59His hand moved to take the phone.
00:54:02I kept it away.
00:54:03Something in my gut told me that this was important.
00:54:07Who 's there?
00:54:08Someone who knew her husband's father very well.
00:54:12Someone who has questions about certain business agreements,
00:54:16which ended rather abruptly.
00:54:18A break.
00:54:19I'm currently looking at her apartment building.
00:54:24127940 Riverside Avenue.
00:54:27Margaret Davies waters her plants on Tuesdays.
00:54:30She's really cute.
00:54:31Ice flooded my veins.
00:54:33James then took the phone.
00:54:36His expression carved in stone.
00:54:38Dimitri.
00:54:39The single word carried volumes.
00:54:41That's a mistake.
00:54:43Is that it?
00:54:44The voice on the other end sounded amused.
00:54:47You are disrupting agreements.
00:54:48You are changing territories.
00:54:51You think there are no consequences because you are Antonio Robinson's son.
00:54:55But Antonio is dead, James.
00:54:57And the old agreements died with him.
00:55:00Margaret has nothing to do with it.
00:55:02But Catherine did.
00:55:04Your child already does.
00:55:05Family is everything, right?
00:55:07That's what your father always said.
00:55:09So I thought I'd introduce myself to you.
00:55:12The line went dead.
00:55:14James moved before I could process what had happened.
00:55:18Phone already to ear.
00:55:20Patrick.
00:55:21Go to 1247 Riverside now.
00:55:24Get Margaret Davies out of there.
00:55:25Use force if necessary.
00:55:27A break.
00:55:28I don't care if it's a public building.
00:55:31Get them out.
00:55:32He turned to me.
00:55:33His face was a mask I had never seen before.
00:55:37Pure, cold rage.
00:55:39Mixed with something that looked like fear.
00:55:42Pack a bag.
00:55:43We're leaving in 10 minutes.
00:55:45What's happening right now?
00:55:46Dimitri Volkov.
00:55:48Russian Mafia.
00:55:49My father's old rival.
00:55:51He was already moving through the penthouse.
00:55:54He pressed his phone to his ear while barking out commands.
00:55:58He makes a move into the territory.
00:56:01Use yourself and Margaret as leverage.
00:56:04Margaret.
00:56:05Panic gripped my throat.
00:56:07James.
00:56:08She is just an old woman.
00:56:10She has nothing to do with it.
00:56:12She is important to you.
00:56:14That makes them a target.
00:56:15He grabbed my shoulders.
00:56:17It forced me to focus.
00:56:19Listen to me carefully.
00:56:20Patrick is getting them now.
00:56:22She will be safe.
00:56:23But we need to move.
00:56:25There is a safe house upstate.
00:56:27We will go there until this is resolved.
00:56:30Solved how?
00:56:31His eyes met mine.
00:56:33And I saw the truth there.
00:56:35The violence he had tried to keep separate from me was about to crash into our world.
00:56:41However it needs to be solved.
00:56:44Thirty minutes later we were in an armored SUV.
00:56:49Patrick drove, while two other men flanked us in a second vehicle.
00:56:54Margaret sat next to me, brought from her apartment with nothing but her handbag and the clothes on her back.
00:57:03"I'm sorry," I whispered to her.
00:57:06I'm so sorry you got caught up in this.
00:57:09Shh.
00:57:10She squeezed my hand.
00:57:12I knew what I was getting into when I helped you.
00:57:15The safe house was two hours north.
00:57:17A sprawling estate, hidden behind gates and guards.
00:57:21James led us inside, his phone constantly to his ear as he coordinated responses to Volkow's threat.
00:57:29He wants a meeting, he told me after the tenth phone call.
00:57:33Neutral ground.
00:57:34Tomorrow evening.
00:57:35Don't go.
00:57:37The words came out in despair.
00:57:39This is a trap.
00:57:40Of course it's a trap.
00:57:42He cupped my face, his thumbs stroking my cheekbones.
00:57:46But I can't let him think he can threaten you.
00:57:49If I don't react, it will set a precedent.
00:57:53Other rivals will see weakness.
00:57:56So you're going to risk your life to prove that you're not weak?
00:58:01I will risk everything to keep you safe.
00:58:04He pressed his forehead against mine, breathing me in.
00:58:09That's what you don't understand yet, Catherine.
00:58:13You and Grace are the only things that matter.
00:58:15Everything else.
00:58:17The business.
00:58:18The power.
00:58:19The reputation.
00:58:20They are all just tools to protect you.
00:58:23Then hire more security.
00:58:25Send someone else.
00:58:27Don't walk into an ambush.
00:58:29I have to.
00:58:30His voice was gentle, but final.
00:58:33This is the world I have built.
00:58:36These are the consequences I face.
00:58:39But I promise you.
00:58:41I will come back.
00:58:42For you.
00:58:43For Grace.
00:58:45For the life we are building.
00:58:47I couldn't sleep that night.
00:58:49I lay in the strange bed in the safe house.
00:58:52Margaret slept in the next room while James made plans for his meeting with Volkov.
00:58:58At three o'clock in the morning he came into my room and slipped into bed next to me without a word.
00:59:03His arms circled me and my stomach, holding us both as if we could disappear.
00:59:10"I love you," he whispered into my hair.
00:59:14I should have said it sooner.
00:59:16I should have told you that every day when we first got together.
00:59:21But I'm saying it now.
00:59:23I love you, Catherine.
00:59:25I love our daughter.
00:59:27And I will do whatever it takes to keep you both safe.
00:59:31I turned in his arms, looking at him in the darkness.
00:59:36His eyes were open.
00:59:38Awake despite the late hour.
00:59:40"Don't die tomorrow," I said.
00:59:43No request.
00:59:44An order.
00:59:45Don't you dare leave us.
00:59:47Never.
00:59:47Then he kissed me.
00:59:49Soft and desperate.
00:59:52I'm not going anywhere.
00:59:53But as morning broke and he dressed for his meeting with Volkov, I couldn't shake the feeling,
01:00:02that everything would change.
01:00:03That the fragile peace we had built was about to break.
01:00:09I watched from the window as he walked, flanked by guards, his shoulders straight with the confidence of a man who
01:00:17had never lost a fight.
01:00:19And prayed that today would not be the first time.
01:00:24So, what do you think?
01:00:27Leave a like if you enjoyed it.
01:00:29And comment.
01:00:31Would you have made the same choice as her?
01:00:34Share it with someone who loves these stories.
01:00:37There are more and more items in the Emma Romance Library.
01:00:41See you soon.
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