Valeria responded to the greeting respectfully, then focused entirely on Alice while the woman talked to Nick as if she were talking to Zeus on Olympus. She found it funny that Nick didn't want to introduce her as his ex, though she definitely looked like the type of woman he liked. But if the CEO of Bennet Designs was expecting to encounter a fit of jealousy on her part, he soon realized that Valeria wasn't even paying attention to him, so he cut the conversation short and said goodbye to Miranda.

Only Valeria, who was facing her when he sat down, could see the gesture of contempt and displeasure Miranda Jones made in her direction—well disguised, of course—but finally she couldn't quite hide the fact that she felt her territory had been invaded.

They returned to the apartment after nine o'clock. Valeria thanked them both and sent Alice off to get her things to leave.

“Wait... what do you mean you're leaving?” Nick protested. The weekend had been too short for him. Was it really Su