Chapter 16 – Compensation
Marcus called the next evening.
“Dinner,” he said. “My treat. You owe me an explanation, and I owe you a decent bottle of Bordeaux.”
We met at a quiet place on the Upper West Side.
Private booth.
Low light.
He poured the wine without asking.
“You let them win.”
“I let them think they won.”
He studied me.
“You fed Hunter the bad numbers on purpose.”
I didn’t answer.
Didn’t need to.
He exhaled.
“Jesus, Victoria.”
I raised my glass.
“To old friends who play along.”
We drank.
Conversation drifted.
Business.
Mutual acquaintances.
The city.
The years since university.
After the second bottle, his hand brushed mine reaching for the bread.
Neither of us moved it away.
The restaurant emptied.
The waiter discreetly disappeared.
Marcus paid.
We stepped outside.
Rain had started—soft, steady.
He held the umbrella over both of us.
Walked me to my car.
At the door, he paused.
His thumb traced my wrist once.
Light.
Intentional.
I looked up at him.
He leaned in.
Slow enough to stop.
I didn’t.
The kiss was brief.
Warm.
Undemanding.
When it ended, he rested his forehead against mine.
“Door’s open if you want more,” he said quietly.
I stepped back.
Smiled—just a little.
“Not tonight.”
He nodded.
No pressure.
No disappointment.
Just understanding.
I got in the car.
Watched him walk away in the rain.
The door closed.
The driver pulled away.
I leaned back against leather.
Felt the faint taste of wine and something almost like relief.
Not love.
Not need.
Just a moment where I wasn’t the one in control.
It was enough.
For now.