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Ari exhaled slowly. ‘Mum.’

‘Arianna.’

The woman looked her up and down, taking in the simple blouse and trousers, the company logo embroidered neatly on her name tag. There was only one small blink of surprise.

‘I was up here on business. Wanted to see this for myself.’

Ari shrugged. ‘And now you have. Is that it?’

Her mother said nothing.

‘I assume my letter reached you. I never heard back, so…’ Ari asked, sharpness slipping into her tone. She hadn’t expected much of a response. But years of silence?

‘I’ve been busy.’

Ari gave a short, mirthless laugh.

‘But yes, I got your note,’ her mother added quickly. ‘And everything else. The credit cards, your keys. And one last little surprise.’

Ari swallowed. ‘Did it reach you in good condition? I had to have it repaired, and I was a little worried…’

‘I thought you lost it.’

‘No.’

Her mother’s gaze sharpened. ‘Your note didn’t make much sense. Your ex-girlfriend had it? The one in the news?’

Ari shrugged. ‘She did. But now she doesn’t.’

‘Do you think that changes anything? You left without notice. You made me look a fool.’

Ari nodded. ‘I’m sorry. But I wanted to change my life. And when you decide to do that, you don’t want to fuck around waiting.’

‘And this is better, is it?’ she asked, gesturing at the office. ‘You, wasting your potential behind a desk?Poor?’

Ari met her gaze, unflinching. ‘I’m more important here than I ever was in your world. I built this with Nancy. Who loves me.’

Silence stretched between them. Then, to her surprise, her mother nodded. Just once. ‘Well. Perhaps you’re my daughter after all.’

It was as close to a blessing as she was ever going to get. Not that she needed it anymore. Funny to think this might have mattered once.

Well, she was her own woman now. The only opinions that mattered to her were her own, Nancy’s, and the people that worked for her. If she had respect from those quarters, there was nothing more to be said.

‘Thanks for dropping by, Mum. Let’s keep in touch,’ Ari said politely.

Her mother’s forehead creased in an expression Ari didn’t think she’d ever seen on her mother before. Gun to her head, she might have said it was remorse. ‘I know that was sarcastic. But I hope we do,’ her mother said flatly. And out she swept.

Ari shut the door and pressed a hand to her forehead. The moment felt heavier than it should have. Maybe because it felt like an ending. Or maybe because it felt like freedom.

Ari locked the office door behind her, the click echoing in the quiet corridor, and climbed the stairs to the flat above. She’d barely kicked off her shoes when the door creaked open again—but this time, she was glad for the interruption.

She smiled as Nancy stepped inside, looking weary but satisfied. Her jacket loosened, and her hair slightly dishevelled from the long day.

‘Hello, you,’ Nancy said, kicking off her heels and rubbing her neck.

Ari went straight to her. ‘Hey, that’smyjob,’ she said, slipping her hands around Nancy’s neck and gently kneading. The groan Nancy let out told her she was hitting the right spot.

‘How’d it go?’ Ari asked.