Chapter 18 · Ivy Knows

The gala's on the fortieth floor. Glass walls, city lights, waiters carrying champagne like it's water. I'm wearing the black dress Lin bought me last week—the one with the slit that makes him stare when he thinks I'm not looking. Tonight I need him distracted.

Ivy's by the east windows. Red dress, hair up, talking to some finance guy whose name I don't care about. She sees me coming and her smile goes tight at the edges.

"Stella." She lifts her glass. "Didn't know you were coming."

"Last minute." I take a champagne flute from a passing tray. Don't drink it. "Lin's networking. Thought I'd say hi."

The finance guy takes the hint and leaves. Ivy watches him go, then turns back to me. Her smile's still there but her eyes are doing math.

"You look good," she says. "Marriage agrees with you."

"Does it?"

She laughs. It sounds expensive. "You tell me. You're the one who signed the papers."

I step closer. Close enough that she has to tilt her head back to keep eye contact. "I want to ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"My father's last route change. The one before the crash." I watch her face.