Page 164 of The Sinner: James

Relieved that we can talk about something else, she gives me updates on our friends from back home.

I listen to her, disconnected.

Moments later, our ride pulls up in front of my building. The doorman and the security guard greet us with friendly smiles as we cruise across the lobby.

She leans closer to me.

“Have you robbed a bank or something?” she whispers.

I chuckle while she smiles, amused.

“No,” I say, motioning to the elevator.

* * *

RAIN

“Oh, my....”Eve utters in disbelief, pacing around the living room before stopping in front of the ceiling-height windows and peering outside.

Central Park looks like a giant canvas painted in crimson, gold, and copper, the fall foliage colors.

“This is amazing,” she murmurs, soaking in the trees and alleys, the people strolling up and down the footpaths, and the rusty leaves on the sidewalks.

She spins away from the window and glances around, taking in the champagne-colored walls, espresso hardwood floors, red couch, and round velvet armchairs.

“What would you like to eat?” I ask as she lowers herself onto the sofa. “There’s an excellent restaurant around the corner, and I can order something.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Yes. A little,” I say, fishing out my phone from my purse.

She gives me a quick once over, taking in my business suit again.

“I’m so glad I ran into you,” she says, still studying me. “What kind of meeting was it?”

“I told you it was business,” I say, flashing a secret smile.

“What kind of business?”

“Good business,” I say, grinning mysteriously again.

I hand her the takeout menu.

“What would you like to eat?” I ask, smoothly nudging her to a different topic.

She makes her selection, and forty minutes later, we sit at the table, eating delicious food.

Once in a while, we glance out the window.

I swapped the skirt suit for black sweatpants and a zippered, long-sleeved, fitted white T-shirt.

Her eyes tip down as I fold a leg beneath me.

“You’re working out,” she says.

“What makes you say that?”

She shrugs.

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