"So, spill. Where did you actually stay last night?"

Izzy stirred her latte with too much vigor. They’d shaken Abe by simply driving away, his shocked face receding in the rearview mirror. Now, in a campus coffee shop booth, the interrogation began.

"Your father’s estate," Chloe said, her voice low. She focused on unwrapping a sugar packet.

"Oh? And he didn’t have you thrown out?" Izzy’s eyes were wide with fake surprise. "My dad is more rigid than a church pew. He doesn’t even let me into his bedroom."

Chloe knew it was an act, but it was a good one.

Izzy leaned forward suddenly, her eyes narrowing. "What’s that? Did a mosquito get you?"

She pointed to a spot just above the collar of Chloe’s turtleneck.

Chloe’s hand flew to her neck. Her face erupted in a hot, uncontrollable blush. A faint, reddish—purple mark, exactly where Alistair’s mouth had been.

Izzy’s eyes lit up. "Oh. My. God," she whispered, her voice a mix of awe and glee. "You and my dad… you actually slept together?"

The shame was a physical weight. Chloe managed a tiny, miserable nod, wishing the floor would swallow her.

Instead of disgust, Izzy slammed her hand on the table, rattling the cups. "Yes! Chloe, you legend! I knew you could do it!"

"We were both drunk," Chloe mumbled.

"Don’t explain! Explanations are just excuses in fancy clothes!" Izzy’s grin was wide and triumphant. "That, my friend, is your badge of honor. A medal for conquering Mount Sterling!"

As if on cue, Izzy’s phone buzzed. The screen read: Dad.

Izzy’s eyes gleamed. She answered and hit the speakerphone button. Alistair’s deep, calm voice filled the small space.

"Izzy, are you with Chloe?"

"Yup!" Izzy chirped. "I was just about to take my poor, new mommy to pick out a proper wedding ring! You can’t seriously expect her to walk around with a naked finger, can you? It’s bad for your brand."

A beat of silence. Chloe held her breath.

"My card is with my assistant," Alistair said, his voice flat. "There is no limit."

Izzy winked at Chloe, a look of pure victory, before ending the call.

"See?" she said, leaning back. "Conquer him, and you conquer the world."

Chloe stared at her friend. The knot of guilt in her stomach loosened. Maybe this wasn’t a disaster. Maybe it was an opportunity. Alistair, for all his coldness, was responsible. He was generous. He was a million miles from Abe’s smooth words and empty promises. For the first time since waking up, she felt a flicker of something other than dread.

"Come on!" Izzy was already sliding out of the booth. "Fifth Avenue awaits! We’re hitting Cartier, Tiffany’s, Harry Winston… all of them!"

She grabbed Chloe’s hand and pulled her to her feet. "And we are getting the biggest, most ridiculously expensive one we can find," she whispered as they headed for the door. "It’s the only way to make my dad feel like he got a good deal."

A ring. A symbol of a marriage she’d stumbled into. It was insane. But as Izzy dragged her towards the Bentley, Chloe thought maybe a little insanity was exactly what she needed.