Page 15 of Velvet Corruption

I shot Alek a look that could melt glass, but he was already turning away, his job done—for now. He knew better than to push me too hard, but he always made sure I saw the full picture. That was why I kept him around, even when I didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

“Excuse me,” I murmured to a cluster of supporters as I threaded my way through the crowd. My heels clicked against the hardwood floor, a steady rhythm amidst the hum of conversation and clinking glasses. I moved carefully; sidestepping a waiter here, a small nod there, all while dreading talking to Julian.

My husband.

Myex.

“Looks like you’re running your own gauntlet tonight,” Julian said as I walked up, that crooked half-smile tugging at his mouth—the same one that used to disarm me before I knew better. His dark brown hair was perfectly in place, hazel eyes boring into me as he stared.

“Only the brave dare to run, right?” I replied, matching his tone. The banter was familiar, easy—like muscle memory. Dangerous, too.

“Bravery has always been your strong suit, Ruby.” He leaned against the bar, nonchalant, yet ever so watchful.

“Speaking of suits, you clean up well when you want to.” I nodded at him. The compliment was an easy way to keep him on my side: the man loved suits, almost as much as he loved his own reflection. “But then again, you always did.”

“Needed to look the part, didn’t I? Especially here, supporting Boston’s potential new DA. First husband.” He smiled at me.

“I think it would make you like…I don’t know. Boston’s honorary first ex-husband.”

“That come with a pension?”

“Only if you lobby the city council for it,” I shot back, taking a glass of sparkling water from the bartender.

“Sounds like a plan.”

I sighed. “Thanks for coming. And for not filing the papers yet.” Aleksey was right; for all his faults, Julian was being kind, andthis was a truth that needed to be acknowledged. “You know how delicate things are right now.”

“Of course, Ruby.” His gaze softened. “I’m not here to make waves. Rosie needs stability. We both do.”

“Right,” I agreed, a simple word that carried the weight of our shared responsibilities, the unspoken understanding that some ties aren’t easily severed. “She does. Thank you.”

“Plus, I’ll get better alimony if you’re on DA salary…”

I rolled my eyes, laughing despite myself. “You know that’s not how it works. In any case, you always were the pragmatist.”

“Just setting realistic expectations,” he said, finishing his whiskey. He leaned in closer to me, dropping his voice but speaking casually. Just quietly enough that people around him couldn’t hear us, but just loud enough that it didn’t feel like we were whispering to each other. The man was a master at keeping up appearances. No wonder Alek wanted to keep him around.

I sighed. “Well, you know all about that.”

“Look, Ruby, I mean it. Whatever happens, I’m here for Rosie—and for you. We’re still a family, no matter what. And that was a joke. You know Rosie is my priority, no matter what.”

I bit my lower lip. “It’s weird, right? She’s the only reason you didn’t file years ago.”

“Really? We’re getting into this right now?”

I paused, considering whether I really wanted to dredge up the past in the middle of what was supposed to be a light-hearted,albeit exhausting, campaign event. But Julian had a way of prodding at the sore spots, sometimes without even realizing it—or maybe he did realize it, and that was his tactic all along. Stir the pot just enough to see what floated to the surface.

Years ago, this would have been a huge fight. Now…it didn’t seem to matter much.

“Look, I’m just being honest,” I said. “As far as I’m concerned, there’s no animosity between us. When you adopted her, she became your child. I was never going to take her away from you. If you were afraid of that, or you’re afraid of it now, I want to make it clear that it’s never going to happen. Whatever happens with this campaign, with my career, with my life, with the end of our marriage—doesn’t matter. Rosie is yours.”

He studied me for a long moment, the noise of the room fading into a dull hum. This was the crux of it, I realized. Not the campaign, not the marriage, but Rosie. She was the link that kept us tethered, however loosely.

“Rosie isours,“ he said finally. “That’s what we agreed to. That’s what she believes.”

“You’re a good father, Julian. I don’t know why you want to keep the fact that you don’t share DNA with her hidden from her. She’ll find out eventually…”

“She’s seven. What does she care about DNA?”