Across the table, Miles Carter wore a dark navy suit and the expression he normally reserved for acquisitions he considered settled before negotiations began. His attorney reviewed the final attachment, while Miles typed another message with both thumbs.
Evelyn recognized the name reflected briefly across his screen.
Serena Blake.
She was thirty-two, newly promoted, and employed as the investor-relations director at Carter Meridian Partners, the private equity firm Miles had inherited from his father and expanded through a combination of aggressive debt purchases, political connections, and opportunities Evelyn had quietly identified during their marriage.
Miles finally looked up.
“Once you sign, the matter becomes much easier for everyone.”
Evelyn held the pen without moving.
“Easier for whom?”
His mouth curved slightly.
“This is exactly what I mean. Every administrative decision becomes an emotional debate with you.”
For eleven years, Miles had used similar language whenever Evelyn noticed something inconvenient. She became emotional when she questioned unusual consulting fees. She became insecure when he traveled repeatedly with Serena. She became unreasonable when he presented Evelyn’s strategic research as his own during investor meetings.
Most often, however, Miles called her practical.
