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realizing her faux pas, they both quickly looked at Nicole.
    ―I didn‘t mean…‖ Elise started.
    ―I understand,‖ Nicole said. When you had a father whose ruthlessness in the business world was legendary, and a brother who was following in his footsteps, you got used to hearing your last name and profanity used interchangeably.
    Awkward silence in five, four, three…
    ―Please. I spoke without thinking.‖ High emotions brought quick tears to the woman‘s eyes.
    The phone in Nicole‘s purse vibrated. ―It‘s ok. It doesn‘t bother me, but I have to go. That‘s my ride. ‖
    Alessandro handed her the plastic bag that contained her soiled clothing, a bag she‘d meant to throw away, but had forgotten to. She took it now, unable to meet the couple‘s eyes.
    He didn‘t let go of the bag until she looked up at him. When she did, he said, ―No one blames you for the sins of your father or your brother. Tell Stephan that. He doesn‘t have to protect you from us.‖
    ―I will,‖ Nicole said, knowing full well that she wouldn‘t.
    Protect me?
    Nicole was pretty sure that was not what Stephan was going to feel inclined to do the next time they spoke.

    Nicole threw her bag of clothing into an outdoor trash bin before sliding into a very welcome open limo door. Once inside, she slumped into the back seat, slipping her shoes off and putting her feet up on the seat across from her.
    Her driver, Jeff, turned in the front seat and asked, "Are you ok?"
    Nicole snapped, "Why does everyone keep asking me that?"
    Isn’t it obvious ? Jeff‘s expression seemed to say before he turned forward and started the vehicle.
    Nicole took out a compact mirror and was instantly sorry she had. Her hair had completely escaped its clip. She smoothed a few areas that were standing straight up, but there wasn‘t much she could do with the tangled rampage of black hair without an elastic.
    She caught Jeff watching her in his rearview mirror.
    "Just take me home.‖ Her brisk tone was meant as a warning, but Jeff remained unimpressed. He turned and simply stared at her, waiting. Jeff had his own set of expectations regarding driver/passenger etiquette. It was inappropriate, but his father, Arnold, had endured her teenage fits without complaint. The least she could do was tolerate his son for a few weeks.
    ―Please,‖ she added.
    Satisfied, he turned and put on his seatbelt. After he pulled away from the curb and onto the main road, he said, "I've never seen you with your hair down."
    She closed her eyes and sighed. ―Do we need to discuss this? I know I look awful.‖
    ―Actually, you‘re hot. Who knew?‖
    Nicole didn‘t know what was worse - that her driver was commenting on her looks and she was too tired to correct him or that he sounded so shocked that she looked good.
    Hot? Hmm?
    Nicole pressed the button to raise the glass partition, but her lips curled in a small, reluctant smile. I’ve been wasting money on stylists and designers when apparently all I needed to do was put my finger in an electrical outlet while wearing a potato sack. This is the look that works for me?
    Men are funny creatures.

    Chapter Four

    An hour later, rinsing off beneath a warm stream of water, Nicole looked at her flat stomach and wondered if she would ever carry a life within her. And if she did, would anyone come to the hospital when it was born? How pathetic was it that the only people she thought might were somehow on her payroll?
    Did Maddy fully appreciate what she had? Parents who loved her? A husband who cried for her? What would it be like to be an Andrade...or a D'Argenson as Maddy was? To be part of a huge extended family, surrounded by love, celebrated simply for being one of them?
    It wasn't the first time Nicole had pondered this.
    Seven and a half years ago, during an internship for the now dissolved Andrade Solutions, Nicole had visited their world. Stephan‘s father, Victor Andrade, perhaps moved by Nicole's earnest desire to