Lauren said cheerfully before leaving Caroline to her desk, "I'll text you and see you tonight, okay?"

As soon as she'd gone, Caroline's smile vanished. She twirled her pen and thought, ‘Well, Lauren Parker, let's play along with your little game.’

*****

That evening, Caroline dressed in her beige Michael Costello halter neck with black Katie May Glisten slacks and a pair of black Jimmy Choo pumps. Obviously, her Chartreuse Prada bag. She arrived at Akira Mei's at 7 ...