Chapter 24 · The Referral

"You need to see this. Right now." Jenna didn't knock. She just came in sideways, phone already out, screen shoved between me and Cade like a referee breaking up a fight nobody called.

"Not now," Cade said, not even looking at her. He was still two feet from me, close enough that I could smell the espresso on his breath from the meeting, close enough that his shadow was eating mine.

"It's not a not-now thing." Jenna's voice cracked on the last word. "It's three outlets, Avery. Three."

I took the phone because my hand moved before my brain caught up. The headline hit me like a slap I saw coming and still didn't block in time.

VANE CAPITAL HEIR'S SECRET LOVE CHILD — NAME PARTNER HID PATERNITY FOR YEARS.

Under it, a photo. Maya. My Maya, four years old, laughing on a swing, cropped from a picture I posted on a locked account eight months ago. Locked. Private. Nobody outside eleven people had that photo.

"Who," I said, and my voice didn't sound like mine, "had access to my private account."

Cade took the phone out of my hand.