Chapter 5 - The Aftermath
The story of Connor Hayes’s fall made the front page, but it was just a footnote in the grander history of the city. For Harper, the change was internal. She wasn't just a lawyer anymore; she was a partner in the most powerful organization in the Midwest.
She spent her days consolidating the terminal holdings and her nights learning the intricacies of a world that didn't play by the rules of law firms. She learned that power wasn't just about winning arguments; it was about defining reality.
One evening, they were at a private fundraiser—not for a charity, but for a political candidate Roman was backing. The room was full of the same people from the gala, but now, when they looked at Harper, they didn't see the woman who had been humiliated. They saw the woman who stood beside Roman Falco.
They stood on a balcony overlooking the city.
“You’re not missing it, are you?” Roman asked, handing her a glass of champagne.
“Missing what?”
“The old life. The safety. The predictability.”
“Predictability is just another word for stagnant,” Harper said, looking out at the city lights. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”
May you like
Roman stood behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. He felt like the one constant in a world that had suddenly become very fluid.
“Good,” he said. “Because the riverfront is only the beginning.”
