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Chapters (66)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Chapter One
  5. Chapter Two
  6. Chapter Three
  7. Chapter Four
  8. Chapter Five
  9. Chapter Six
  10. Chapter Seven
  11. Chapter Eight
  12. Chapter Nine
  13. Chapter Ten
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Chapter Fourteen
  18. Chapter Fifteen
  19. Chapter Sixteen
  20. Chapter Seventeen
  21. Chapter Eighteen
  22. Chapter Nineteen
  23. Chapter Twenty
  24. Chapter Twenty-One
  25. Chapter Twenty-Two
  26. Chapter Twenty-Three
  27. Chapter Twenty-Four
  28. Chapter Twenty-Five
  29. Chapter Twenty-Six
  30. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  31. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  32. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  33. Chapter Thirty
  34. Chapter Thirty-One
  35. Chapter Thirty-Two
  36. Chapter Thirty-Three
  37. Chapter Thirty-Four
  38. Chapter Thirty-Five
  39. Chapter Thirty-Six
  40. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  41. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  42. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  43. Chapter Forty
  44. Chapter Forty-One
  45. Chapter Forty-Two
  46. Chapter Forty-Three
  47. Chapter Forty-Four
  48. Chapter Forty-Five
  49. Chapter Forty-Six
  50. Chapter Forty-Seven
  51. Chapter Forty-Eight
  52. Chapter Forty-Nine
  53. Chapter Fifty
  54. Chapter Fifty-One
  55. Chapter Fifty-Two
  56. Chapter Fifty-Three
  57. Chapter Fifty-Four
  58. Chapter Fifty-Five
  59. Chapter Fifty-Six
  60. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  61. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  62. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  63. Chapter Sixty
  64. Chapter Sixty-One
  65. Chapter Sixty-Two
  66. Acknowledgments

Elliott prepared truly simple dishes. At night, we ate fresh seafood, drank good wine, and explored new ways to please one another. Elliott mastered the lovely art of satisfying his wife. If I had left my serious nature behind, Elliott left his bad back issues behind. I could’ve gotten used to the honeymoon thing. But reality beckoned, appointments loomed, creative meals demanded to be fixed. We made promises to return. And for the first time in three days, I consulted my calendar. I had a rescheduled meeting the next day with a man who’d been described as “the new Danny Meyer.” He had lofty ambitions and a big fat wallet. In preparation for our meeting, I had sent over my portfolio, which I’d updated before we left town. I was ready. New York loves “the next big thing.” I intended to make him my latest client.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Four

McClelland Whitney greeted me at the door of his forty-third-floor office. He was tall, dark, and handsome. And Southern. He shook my hand with equal parts firmness and ease.

“Miss Edgeworth, please, take a seat. It is so nice to meet you. I took the liberty of ordering you a cappuccino. I hope that’s okay. You see, I’ve done my homework on you.” The way he drew out my last name was as slow as molasses. He waited until I had sat down before he took a seat next to mine.

“Please, it’s Bailey,” I said. He was at least a full decade older than me.

“Thank you,” he said as if I had granted him a favor. “I’m from rural Georgia. I will let you in on a little secret. I stared at all five of my best blue sport coats before deciding on this one. Your portfolio is impressive.”

“Then your research failed you, Mr. Whitney. I am not sure I qualify as a real Southern lady.” His little shtick somehow made me laugh. It felt like a release of something long forgotten after this exile imposed by my men. I wanted to get down to business, but I could predict what he was going to say next, and I wouldn’t be disappointed.

“My daddy is Mr. Whitney. I’m just Mac,” he said with effortless charm. “You’re famous, Bailey. Your portfolio is amazing.” Just the reaction I’d been hoping for when I assembled my now-plump portfolio.