Return to New York

She glanced at Roth who was staring pensively out the window. He must be happy to be back. He probably had six month’s of work to sort through and weeks of phone calls to return. His first priority should be to reach out to everyone he’d met at the Trentham Ball and start filling his calendar with lunch and dinner dates. In fact, he should be doing that now on his cell phone, but it still hadn’t made an appearance. Was he trying to prove he was turning over a new leaf? He didn’t need to pretend with her. They both knew it was only a matter of time before he resumed his workaholic schedule.

To put his mind at ease, she reached out and lightly touched his arm. Immediately, his head whipped toward her.

“You can drop me off at my family hotel,” she said quietly.

His steady gaze didn’t waver. “For what?”

“Our deal’s over. You have no obligation to me or Hennessy & Co. You’re free.”

He didn’t blink, didn’t speak.

“You’re not responsible for me,” she said, patting his rigid arm. “You can go back to work and do what you need to. I’ll move on as well.”

“Why the hotel?”

She pulled back. “I need time to look for a place.”

He made no comment. Chest tight, she looked to Johan who was behind the wheel.

“Will you drop me off at my family’s hotel on East 57th Street?” she asked.

When Johan nodded, she sat back and closed her eyes, relieved that no one was arguing with her and they were respecting her wishes. Soon, this would be over. No bodyguards, no facades, no pretenses. She would be a free agent again with no responsibilities beyond the ones she wished to claim. The only thing she cared about was finishing her book. Where she accomplished that and how long it would take her, she didn’t know. And she didn’t need to. It would work itself out.

**This is a raw draft of Bitter Sins. Please do not share or distribute.

Copyright © 2025 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.