Chapter 1 #2
A small smile ghosted over her lips, so brief Sarah might have missed it if she weren’t paying attention.
“Call me Nell, please,” she said, her voice dipping slightly into amusement. “Cornelia is a curse only a man named Thaddeus would give his child.”
That smile . . .
Sarah had never seen her smile before. It was beautiful.
She took a sip of her drink, buying half a second to compose herself. Sarah was not someone who was left speechless. Ever. But for some reason, standing here, watching Nell watch her, she felt disoriented in the best way.
“Alright, then. Nell it is.”
“How’s Lily doing with her training?” Nell asked, tilting her head slightly, and Sarah was momentarily mesmerized by how her dark brown hair moved as one fluid sheet.
“Has she committed to college gymnastics yet? I imagine she’s interested in competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, especially after that showing at the Olympics last summer. ”
Sarah blinked. It was reasonable to expect that Nell would know of Lily, given Nell’s involvement in the world of women’s sports, but still, such an intimate question about Lily had disarmed her.
She smoothly covered her surprise, slipping into the confidence she wore like armor.
“We’re still a few years away from college, thankfully. Right now, it’s business as usual for Lily.” She smirked slightly, swirling her bourbon. “Although, between you and me, I’m hoping she picks Stanford.”
Nell hummed as if considering. “Good choice. Strong program. Strong academics.”
Sarah watched her, curious. There was something about how Nell steered a conversation—so subtle and effortless that most people wouldn’t notice it happening.
Sarah noticed, though, because Sarah noticed everything, and she could tell that Nell was just like her—the type of woman who liked to be in control.
Sarah wasn’t bothered by it. She found herself intrigued.
Their conversation wove between topics: business, sports, strategy. Sarah could hold her own in any discussion, but talking to Nell felt like sparring with someone who knew how to match her step for step, never giving her the upper hand.
“I’m glad to see you here tonight.” Nell’s voice was soft without being dainty in a way where it would get lost. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that our paths keep crossing.”
Sarah sipped her drink leisurely. She had noticed Nell at other events over the past year. It was hard not to see Nell when she was in a room, with the way she commanded attention, but Sarah had never been brave enough to approach her. “We do seem to keep ending up in the same places,” she agreed.
“You interest me, Sarah,” Nell said, matter-of-factly. “Top of your class at Stanford; youngest person—man or woman—to make partner at Braxton and Pryce. The work you were doing was impressive enough that Clint Braxton added your name to the firm, and Clint’s not a man who is easily swayed.”
“You’ve done your research,” Sarah commended, slightly shocked by how much Nell knew about her.
Nell’s smile only broadened. “I like to know who I’m getting involved with. My time is valuable, I ensure the people I spend it on are worth the investment.”
Sarah’s eyes followed Nell’s glass to her lips, watching them pucker as she took a measured sip, and God, Sarah. Focus. She gulped, forcing her eyes back on Nell’s.
“Was there a verdict? Am I worth your time?”
“I’m still here talking to you, aren’t I?” Grinning mischievously, Nell raised a delicate eyebrow.
“Well, then, consider me flattered,” Sarah said, coyly raising her glass to her lips to conceal her smile. She was half tempted to pinch herself to make sure this was really happening—that she, Sarah Gallagher, was flirting with Nell Stanhope. The Cornelia Stanhope.
This party may have been worth coming to after all.
The amber liquid bit her throat as she swallowed, never breaking Nell’s gaze. She had never seen eyes quite like Nell’s—gray with the tiniest hint of blue.
“You should be, but unfortunately, my time does seem to be coming to an end.” Nell looked over Sarah’s shoulder. When Sarah turned, she saw Lily approaching from across the room with her best friend, Wren Parker, in tow.
Lily was dressed in a shimmery pink tulle cocktail dress and heels higher than Sarah would have ever approved of for a sixteen-year-old, but it was Beth’s week, not hers.
Lily was the spitting image of her mother—fair skin, blonde hair, and those same striking blue eyes.
In Sarah’s admittedly biased opinion, no one in the world was more beautiful, but she was growing up so fast.
“I was right!” Lily bounced up and down, clapping her hands together as she approached. “You look amazing, Mom.” Sarah beamed as she showed off the dress to her daughter.
“When it comes to this stuff, you usually are.” Sarah hugged Lily, placing a quick kiss on her cheek. “You look beautiful, Lils. And Wren.” She glanced at the taller girl, who seemed even more all-limbs than the last time she’d seen her. “Looking sharp as ever.”
Wren’s eyes immediately found the floor, as they usually did when Sarah spoke to her. “Thank you,” she mumbled.
With her arm still around Lily, Sarah turned to Nell. “Girls, you remember Cornelia Stanhope?” she said, with a small smile. She felt Lily straighten her shoulders, like Sarah always did when wanting to present herself in the best manner.
“Nell, please,” Nell said, shaking Lily’s outstretched hand, and then Wren’s.
“Miss Gallagher, congratulations on your impressive wins last summer at the Olympics. And Miss Parker, it’s good to see you again.
I was glad to see your name on the call-up list for the She Believes Cup.
That goal you made in the game against Japan was something else. ”
Wren’s cheeks turned bright pink, and Nell quickly glanced at Sarah as if to ask what was going on. Sarah gave her a look that said, That’s Wren, go with it.
“Oh, um, that was nothing, really. I mean, Watson—oh, you know Watson because she, uh, plays for you. She saw the opening, and, uh, it was a team effort,” she finished quietly.
“Wren, we all watched that game, and yeah, Watson saw the opening, but you finished it,” Lily said, bumping her shoulder into Wren before turning to Sarah. “Mom sent me over to grab you. She and Jamie want to get photos before the speeches start.”
Sarah’s eyes flicked to the other side of the room before returning to Nell, who raised a slight eyebrow. “Tell your mom I’ll make my way over in a few minutes,” Sarah said to Lily. “Nell and I were just finishing up our conversation.”
“Okay, but don’t take too long.” Lily turned back to Nell. “It was nice to see you again, Nell.”
“Yeah, nice to see you,” Wren chimed in, before the girls turned and made their way back across the party.
“She likes you, you know,” Sarah said, her voice low as her eyes tracked Lily and Wren where they weaved their way through the crowd. Lily’s strides, even in heels, were pure grace, whereas Wren seemed to stumble every few feet.
Nell’s brow arched slightly. “Wren?”
“Her, too, but I meant Lily.” Sarah’s eyes darted to Nell’s fingers, which were toying absentmindedly with a delicate gold Cartier watch circling her wrist—the only piece of jewelry she happened to be wearing. “You didn’t talk to her like she was a kid. That matters to her. And it matters to me.”
Nell swirled the remaining bourbon in her glass, then took a careful sip. “I don’t talk down to people I respect.”
Sarah’s gaze snapped back to Nell, “I’m not sure if that’s supposed to flatter or terrify me,” Sarah said, aiming for wryness, but her voice was too honest and thoughtful. “If I were a betting woman, I’d say your standards are pretty high.”
Nell’s eyes glinted excitedly. “You already know what it means to meet them.”
That brought a real smile from Sarah. “Do you always play your cards this close to the chest?” She asked.
“Only when the stakes are worth it,” Nell quipped, unbothered, completely composed. “And you, Sarah Gallagher, are not a woman I’d waste time bluffing with.”
The moment between them stretched—longer than it should have—before Sarah glanced toward the other side of the room, where Beth and Jamie stood beside Lily. She could see the three of them smiling for a photo.
“I should go,” Sarah said, though she didn’t move. “Family photo.”
Nell tilted her head, studying her. “Of course. Wouldn’t want to keep them waiting.”
Sarah turned to leave, then paused, her voice quieter this time. “I hope our paths cross again soon.”
Nell’s smile returned, measured and knowing. “They will.” Nell said, with certainty that sent a chill up Sarah’s spine.
Nell slipped quietly into the crowd as the moment between them folded in on itself, quiet and, hopefully, unfinished.
Sarah threw back the last of her drink and made her way back to where Beth and Jamie were, willing her expression to be neutral and unbothered, but her thoughts were anything but.
Sarah wasn’t easily thrown. She spent her days head-to-head with high-powered executives, courtroom sharks, and tech billionaires who thought their wealth made them untouchable.
She knew how to command a room, how to stay three moves ahead, how to read people before they even knew they were being read.
But Nell? Nell had read her effortlessly and shaken her easily, and Sarah was still trying to figure out why.
Nell Stanhope casually seeking her out for conversation made no sense to her, but that hadn’t felt like casual small talk.
It felt like playing chess with someone who already knew the match’s outcome—and was only letting the game continue to see how long it would take their opponent to catch up. And Sarah hated how much she wanted another round. Or two. Or three.
She slid in beside Lily just in time for another photo when she felt a familiar touch.
“Wait, you’re a little twisted here,” Beth said, turning toward her, and Sarah willed herself not to react as Beth absently reached out to straighten the halter strap of her dress and Jamie laughed on her other side at something Wren had just said.
Do not react, do not react, she recited as she smiled for the camera, pretending she couldn’t feel the ghost of Beth’s touch on her collarbone, where her hand had just been.
Her mind hadn’t caught up yet—an unfamiliar lag for someone usually ten steps ahead of everyone in the room. It was still standing across the room, locked in step with Nell Stanhope.
They will. Nell had said it like a promise that their paths would cross again soon, not a possibility. Sarah hadn’t gotten a number, but she made a mental note to ask Avery to secure it.
“You look stunning, Sar,” Beth said sincerely.
“Lily knocked it out of the park again. You always could pull off a halter.” Sarah tried her best not to melt into those words, into the three-letter variation of her name that only Beth could get away with calling her.
She told herself she wouldn’t, but she made the mistake of looking directly into Beth’s eyes—those pools of endless blue she had always loved to get lost in.
“So do you,” she said, and she meant it. Beth did look amazing, and it physically hurt her to say that out loud and not be able to do anything more about it.
Sarah forced herself to look away and turned instead to Jamie, who was deep in conversation with Wren and Lily.
“I think we can officially call Empwr a massive success, don’t you?” Sarah said, her voice assuming its usual commanding presence.
Jamie turned, her face lighting up at the praise. “Yeah. It’s been an insane year.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Beth murmured, squeezing Jamie’s hand.
Jamie beamed at her before turning back to Sarah. “But, seriously, thank you. That means a lot.”
She softened slightly, sincerity slipping into her tone. “Well, for what it’s worth, I admire what you and Shannon have built here. Women’s sports needed this, and you two are already making a big impact. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Jamie’s face flicked through a series of emotions—surprise, appreciation, maybe even relief—before she gave a lopsided grin. “Is this where we finally hug it out?” Jamie joked, already knowing Sarah’s answer.
Sarah chuckled, shaking her head. “Not a chance, Lyons.”
Jamie dove into telling her about some of the new businesses she had helped athletes get off the ground over the past year, and Sarah listened with mild interest, but it was getting increasingly harder to listen to Jamie when she could feel Beth’s eyes on her.
Beth was watching her now, her blue eyes a little too knowing for Sarah’s comfort.
Beth, who could always see right through her.
This particular expression was that same disappointed I know you’re distracted look Beth had often worn through their marriage, but now, Sarah’s distraction was for an entirely different reason.
She raised an eyebrow, silently daring Beth to say something, and Beth almost did. She opened her mouth, hesitated, and narrowed her eyes slightly before sipping her drink—a silent truce.
Sarah brushed it off, returning her attention to Jamie as her phone buzzed in her clutch. Perfect, she thought, ready for a breather from this conversation.
“I’m sorry, I need to take this.” Her voice was perfectly apologetic as she stepped off to the side, away from Beth and Jamie, and pulled her phone from the small, beaded bag.
It wasn’t a call. She had known that when she’d made her excuse to leave. It was a text.
UNKNOWN NUMBER 9:04 PM
Dinner. Tomorrow, 8 PM. I’ll send a car. – Nell
Sarah’s brain screeched to a halt.
“What the?” she said under her breath.
She stared at the message as if she could intimidate it into further explanation, the same way she would when cross-examining witnesses. She was still processing Nell’s message when a sensation prickled at the back of her neck, a quiet awareness that someone was watching her.
She looked up, and there she was.
Nell Stanhope.
Across the room, she was calm and composed, her steel-blue gaze locked on to her, the ghost of a smile playing on her lips as she lifted her glass in a deliberate acknowledgment.
Sarah felt the weight of it—the unspoken challenge and invitation wrapped in that single motion.
She swallowed.
What have you gotten yourself into? her mind whispered. She wasn’t sure, but she was intrigued as hell.
That dinner couldn’t come soon enough.