He wouldn’t vilify a dead woman, but he didn’t want to be known as the grieving widower anymore. “And that includes the woman I’m in love with. And yes, she happens to be a shrink, and I’m pleased to say she’s not my shrink.”

Caroline continued typing, then looked up at Jack, pausing over the keys. “I also understand from Casey that you have some new plans in the works related to the political campaign you’ve been supporting.”

Jack nodded. “Yes, we do,” he said because he hadn’t asked Denkler to withdraw. That was never in the cards. Denkler was trying to do good for the city, and he’d been forced into a corner. Jack wasn’t going to continue to let Michelle, nor his business, his sister, his friends like Henry and Marquita, nor his life be dictated by a bully. Nick “Clark Davidson” Bradshaw might be able to spin a tale to the tabloids and start a viral trend, but that didn’t mean everyone would respond to his tactics. “But we’d really rather show you. Do you have a minute to go to Eden?”

Caroline shot him a curious look as she closed her laptop. “I love Eden,” she said in a whisper.

“So do a lot of people,” Casey said, then dropped her voice too. “Have you tried The Wild One? It’s divine.”

“God, I know. It’s amazing,” Caroline said.

Minutes later, they’d reached the store on the Upper East Side. Even from across the street, anyone could tell it was packed. Casey had unleashed the marketing promotional plans on social media that morning, earlier than planned, since they’d switched to Plan B. But the change-the-conversation tactic needed to be moved up. Jack wanted to take all the attention off Michelle and off the BDSM clubs too. He’d gotten into this business in the first place because he believed in pleasure, and all the different routes to it. He believed playing dirty was best reserved for a true war, and for true lovers in the bedroom.

Caroline peered at the large sign in hot pink print on the front of the store.

“All proceeds from any Joy Delivered products bought at Eden in store and online for the rest of the year will be donated to breast cancer research. May your days and nights be filled with pleasure beyond your wildest fantasies.”

Caroline’s jaw dropped. “Holy shit. That could be a lot of money.”

Casey jumped in. “So far today, in the first few hours of the promotion being announced, we’ve raised several thousand dollars. We planned to wait until the charity gala this week to make the announcement, but now seemed a better time.”

Especially when the news of the donation spread throughout the district, to the same people who had once supported Conroy’s campaign. Over the next few days, the conversation changed. There was very little talk amongst the residents of shutting down the clubs. In fact, business had never been better at Eden. Jack was pleased that they’d been able to extract themselves from a dirty, muddy race with something positive. That they’d been able to move away from the mudslinging and serve the community in a much more meaningful way.