Page 376 of The Sinner: James

5

JAMES

“As I said a week ago...It better be good, Preston,” I say, flashing a grin and shutting the door behind me after entering his hotel suite.

Fixing his tie, he shakes hands with me while smiling mysteriously.

He looks radiant, and his clean-shaven face is glowing, but there is something else about him.

My eyes rake over his dark suit pants and button-down silver-gray shirt while his fingers slide over his tie.

He shows me to a chair.

“Do you want something to drink?” he asks, pouring scotch into a short thick glass, the hard liquor gliding over bulky cubes of ice.

“No. I’m good. Did you talk to Lex?”

“Nope. I wanted to talk to you first.”

I slide into my seat, my eyes trained on him as he turns around to face me.

He takes a few steps and claims an armchair.

Close to us, the doors are open, and the evening breeze rolls in.

I painstakingly read his face.

This must be important.

I’ve never seen him so serious and content at the same time.

“Is this about the company?” I ask.

He sets the glass down.

“Yeah… It’s also about the business,” he says, his lips holding a soft smile.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

He raises his hand.

“Everything is fine. I had business meetings in Prague. If everything goes well, things will roll as planned in the fall.”

“That’s good,” I say evenly, sensing there’s more to it.

“I also flew to Istanbul,” he says abruptly, looking down.

“How’s your girl?” I ask flatly again.

A smile I’ve never seen on him before creeps across his lips, and his eyes shine brightly, soft, and tender.

He tips his eyes down, smiling as if revisiting a good memory. A shadow slides over his face just as I’m about to ask another question.

I wait.

“She’s good... now.”

I don’t say a thing.

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