Page 95 of The Marriage Clause

"You don't have a favorite."

"I do, actually. Mostly because you're my only current set." A beat. "Also, I thought you should know there may or may not be a photographer hiding in bushes outside the villa in the next two days."

I close my eyes.

"Everly."

"What? The trustees read Seattle society pages. I'm just helping the narrative along."

"You hired paparazzi."

"I prefer curated visibility."

I take a sip of coffee and stare out toward the pale silver line of the sea. "You're running a one-woman campaign against my peace. I'm taking it as a personal attack."

"Good," she says promptly. "I meant it personally."

I can hear papers shifting on her end, keys clicking, probably three assistants moving around her while she terrorizes all of them at once.

"So," she says, "how's it going?"

"Fine."

She goes quiet for half a beat. "That bad?"

"It isn't bad."

"Did you take any of the excursions I had the resort line up for you?"

"No."

"Everett."

"What?"

"The vineyard? The yacht? The museum? Literally anything that makes you look like a man enjoying his honeymoon instead of a CEO being held hostage in linen?"

I glance toward the study, toward the laptop I abandoned there less than ten minutes ago.

"Aria seems happy to sightsee on her own."

That earns me silence.

Then, very carefully, "You sent your bride to explore the French Riviera alone while you sat in your office?"

"She wanted to go alone. Think about how that looks to the board."

"She's your wife. Start there. And second, when in the last five years since taking over this family's empire have you taken a real vacation? Not a business trip with a prettier view. Not a board meeting near a beach. An actual break."

"It's not just a family business," I say. "It's a billion-dollar empire, and it doesn't run itself. You of all people know that. You were running operations for Conrad before I even took over. You know what it takes."

She is quiet for just a second too long.

Then, softer, "I know what it costs too."

I don't answer that.

"You’re going to end up buried with that phone still in your hand if you’re not careful, Everett."