He led them down the hallway. Jules couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between this place and Du Jour, where the office walls were either made of glass or painted in cream, the floors either pale hardwoods or beige carpet. Everything there had the feeling of being transparent, like gossamer, as if you were floating on air.

That, and also of being a surveillance state where Vivian could see everyone in their glass-walled offices and make sure they weren’t wasting her time.

This place was like something out of a Victorian novel, with red carpets and heavy wooden doors and black marble walls. Jules half-expected a butler with a British accent to step out of nowhere.

“I’ve spoken to Robert’s lawyer,” Preston was saying as he led them down a side corridor to an open doorway at the end. Shiny leather chairs were placed on each side of the door. “Looks like everything is in place. And so far Robert’s been willing to compromise—”

“Oh yes,” Vivian said bitterly.

“—and to be punctual.” Preston looked over at Vivian with an attempt at a smile. “I’m willing to bet that two hours from now we’ll be fairly close to a resolution of terms.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Vivian said. “I’ll need to speak to Robert alone.”

It took some effort for Jules not to stop dead in the hallway. Robert was going to be here today? This wasn’t just Vivian and her lawyer? Which meant…

Oh shit. It meant Vivian was going to tell Robert she was pregnant today with Jules in the same building, which would be about a million times worse than waiting for Vivian to finish taking a pregnancy test in the bathroom.

Jules’s parents had wanted her to major in one of the sciences and go to med school. She should have done that. Then she’d be doing something more relaxing right now, like cutting open a cadaver.

Preston was frowning. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he asked carefully, leading them into a conference room with an enormous oaken table surrounded by plush chairs. “So far he’s been, um, resistant to…”

“I know what he’s been.” Vivian slipped out of her coat and seated herself in a chair precisely at the middle of one side of the table. “This is important, Preston.”

“If you’re sure.” He hung the coat on a rack by the door.

“Where would you like me to sit?” Jules asked.

She’d addressed the question to Preston, but Vivian tapped the table with her right hand. “Here.”

Preston said to Jules, “I see my position has been usurped.” Then he smiled to show there were no hard feelings. “Vivian, I’ve got a few matters to take care of in my office before our meeting starts. Did you have any particular questions for me before I go?”