She Was Already Being Polite to Me Before
Avery Hayes walked into the billiards room in a daze, her thoughts a million miles away.
The moment she stepped inside, the hallway vanished, replaced by a world of its own.
The room was massive, almost extravagantly open.
A snooker table sat dead center, bathed in the soft, green glow of the lamp hanging over it.
In one corner, a sprawling L-shaped sofa carved out a lounge in front of a huge gaming setup.
Across the room, wine bottles chilled in an ice bucket on a glass bar, beads of condensation trickling down their sides.
The low, thrumming music gave the whole place a deeply relaxing vibe.
"Have a taste, Ms. Hayes."
Julian Shaw approached from the bar, holding out a wide-mouthed rocks glass. The sound of his voice snapped Avery back to the present. She took the glass with a polite smile.
"Can I ask you something?" Julian asked.
He was a tall man, at least six-foot-three, and the top two buttons of his simple black shirt were undone, hinting at the muscle beneath.
Maybe it was the commanding presence his height gave him, but when he leaned down to speak, his gaze felt intensely focused.
His voice wasn't loud, but it cut straight through the music.
"With your kind of skill, why the entertainment industry?"
Ever since Dexter Reed had told him he'd found the perfect fit for Stellar Media in Westlake City, Julian had been having Avery investigated. The mistake he'd made last year was still fresh in his mind, and he wasn't about to sign another pretty face with no substance and risk derailing his plans.
The results had been surprising. This Dr. Hayes had a background as clean as a fresh sheet of paper.
In her twenty-five years, the most remarkable thing she'd ever done was get tapped by Dexter to film a short series.
A person like that should have had her life mapped out.
Even with the fallout from the medical malpractice suit, jumping into the entertainment industry was a bizarre pivot.
But she'd done it anyway.
And tonight, he saw ambition in her eyes, a fire that didn't quite match the person in the file. He wanted to know what had pushed her to make such a drastic change.
Avery took a small sip from the glass he'd given her. "Financial freedom," she said, a playful glint in her eye. "And I'd like to retire early."
Julian was taken aback for a second, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he broke into a laugh. "I want to retire early, too."
Avery raised an eyebrow. "You're the boss. You'll still have to be here holding down the fort long after your employees are gone."
Julian just smiled, lifting his glass in a small toast. "I look forward to you joining Stellar Media."
"I look forward to it, too." Avery gently clinked her glass against his, the sound crisp and clear in the air. She finished her drink in one smooth gulp.
The interest was clearly mutual. As long as Avery proved she could bring value to Stellar Media, the company's internal review would be a formality. Barring any surprises, a contract was practically a done deal.
"Mr. Shaw, I have things to do tomorrow, so I should get going," Avery said, placing her empty glass on the bar.
Julian picked up his jacket, draping it over his forearm. "As it happens, I'm leaving too. Let me walk you down."
Avery didn't object.
She said a quick goodbye to Leo Foster, Dexter Reed, and the others before falling into step beside Julian.
They walked in silence to the elevator, the doors sliding shut and encasing them in the small space.
A faint, cool scent filled the air, white tea, subtle and clean, like a garden after a fresh rain.
It was understated but impossible to ignore.
Julian glanced down at her profile. In the warm overhead light, the shadow of her long lashes softened her normally guarded expression. The elevator chimed, signaling its arrival on the first floor.
He looked away, reaching out to hold the door open and motioning for her to go first. His assistant was waiting in the garage; this wasn't his stop.
Avery gave him a slight nod and stepped out. Their eyes met for a fraction of a second before they both looked away.
A faint smile touched Julian's lips as he pressed the close button. The metal doors slid silently shut, reflecting his now-expressionless face.
Avery waited for the elevator's indicator light to change floors before turning and walking out of The Empyrean Club.
The night air was chilly, instantly washing away the warmth from the club.
She pulled out her phone, booked a rideshare, and then noticed an unread message from Owen Bowen.
She stared at it for a long moment before closing the app.
Instead, she navigated to the official DA's Office website to check the status of her own murder case.
It was a secure platform. Access to criminal case details was heavily restricted to those directly involved, their immediate family, or their legal counsel.
As far as the law was concerned, she was dead.
She couldn't use her old identity to log in, but she could still see the case's public-facing progression.
She hadn't even thought to check until now. When the page loaded, she saw that her case hadn't even reached the prosecutorial review stage. It was stalled in the initial investigation phase. A prosecutor hadn't even issued a recommendation.
Her thumb froze on the screen. She had been killed by her abusive husband. The murderer had been arrested at the scene. There was nothing to investigate. It should have been a slam-dunk case with ironclad evidence, a quick trial, and a swift verdict. But here it was, stuck right at the beginning.
It made no sense. Something was wrong. And for now, she had no way to find out what.
As Avery frowned, lost in thought, a sharp, disbelieving voice cut through the night.
"Avery Hayes? You actually came to New York."
The voice was shrill with shock. Avery looked up to see Lorraine Sterling helping an elderly man out of a Rolls-Royce.
Lorraine's makeup was flawless as ever, and she wore a dark suit with a silk scarf tied at her neck, projecting her usual air of dignified authority.
But she looked worn out, no doubt from dealing with the fallout from her brother's scandal.
Even the perfect makeup couldn't hide her exhaustion.
"No wonder I couldn't find you in Westlake City," Lorraine said, helping the old man walk closer. Her eyes, practically dripping venom, scanned Avery from head to toe. "You ran off to New York."
"You were looking for me?" Avery asked, surprised to see her here. Her expression hardened as she met Lorraine's scrutinizing gaze. "I don't think we have anything to talk about."
"Was that video online a few days ago you?" Lorraine's words seethed with rage. "That clip threw my family into chaos. Sterling Foods even got a notice from the Health Department. My grandfather and I came here specifically to deal with this mess."
"What video are you talking about?" Avery asked, her calm tone hiding a sharp edge. "Are you angry because a video exposed you threatening me? It was just telling the truth."
Avery's expression didn't flicker. She casually raised a hand to smooth back a few strands of hair the wind had tousled, her fingers brushing against the rhinestone hair clip she wore.
She'd bought it online after waking up in this new body.
She hadn't had it with her during their first confrontation in the hospital director's office, but she'd worn it ever since, for moments just like this.
Lorraine sneered. "You've got a sharp tongue. I'm not here to argue. Name your price. What will it take for you to sign a letter of forgiveness?"
She took half a step forward, lowering her voice.
A ruthless glint entered her eyes. "You'd better be smart about this. Take the money and shut up, or else..."
But Avery didn't back down. She stepped forward, meeting Lorraine's glare with a clear, cold voice.
"I made myself very clear at the hospital: I will not be signing anything."
She paused, letting the words hang in the air.
"And for the record, what you just did, threatening me, is a crime. I could report you for harassment and intimidation."