I stare at the image, feeling sick to my stomach. It’s not a rational thought in the slightest, but, aside from the clear practical need to keep her a secret from Brendan, I don’t want this existence and my real life to overlap at all. I don’t want any of what I’m doing here with him to sully the innocence of my daughter’s childhood.

My brain shudders to a halt. ‘That’s my—um…’

‘You alright, love?’ he asks. He sounds concerned, which should be a red flag.

‘That’s my niece,’ I supply triumphantly.

‘She’s cute. So, do you have a sister?’

His dirty grin snaps me out of my panic. I deliver both the side-eye and the barefaced lie that kind of question deserves. ‘A brother. Listen, I have to go. We’ve got Seraph drinks.’

‘Jesus Christ, that’s a visual I don’t need,’ he groans, handing me the phone. I snatch it back with relief. ‘Every man in the bar must hit on you guys. Where are you going, and what do you guys get up to when you go out on the tiles?’

I stand. ‘One, I have no idea because I’ve never been out with them before, two, it’s none of your business where we’re going, and three, if I had to guess, I’d say we’ll spend most of the time sharing salacious details about our bosses.’ I wink at him. ‘Have a good weekend. Try to leave some fuel in the tank for me on Monday morning.’

And with that, I sashay out of his office like the brazen ho I now apparently am.

CHAPTER 25

Marlowe

Apparently, it’s Seraph tradition that a new hire puts her card behind the bar for the first team soirée she attends. Athena has made it clear to me that this is categorically not happening on her watch. She told me that the seraphim all know about my situation and that everyone has agreed to split the tab tonight.

I’m equal parts mortified and relieved. Much as I hate being a charity case, I know the guilt would kill me if I watched these women drink thousands of pounds’ worth of champagne and spirits. And it really would be thousands. Athena said the champagne they drink at this place is like seven hundred pounds a bottle for table service.

A bottle!

So yeah. When two bottles of champagne could fund a consultation with a cardiothoracic surgeon, then I’m more than willing to swallow my pride and save my cash. Besides, I’m not going to drink much tonight. I’m exhausted after the week I’ve had, and there’s no way I’m going to risk feeling crappy tomorrow when I get to spend quality time with my little girl.