Chapter 10: Shattered Glass

POV: Archer

The mid-morning sun slashed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the bistro, casting sharp, clinical light across our table. Midtown was humming outside, a blur of yellow taxis and suits, but inside, the air-conditioning kept everything curated and cool.

Sienna swirled the straw in her iced cold brew, the clink of ice against glass sounding like a countdown. She looked at me over the rim, her dark eyes tracking every micro-movement of my face.

"Aren't you worried Evelyn might just wander in and catch us?" she asked. Her tone was playful, but the edge was there. Sharp. Demanding.

I leaned back, swirling my espresso. The bitterness on my tongue felt right.

"Relax. Evelyn’s under the weather. Her parents are in town from Hudson Valley, so she’s playing the dutiful daughter today. She’s nowhere near here."

Sienna let out a soft, throaty laugh. She leaned forward, the silk of her blouse catching the light as she rested her chin on her hand.

"If we ever make this official and you pull a stunt like this on me, I’ll ruin you," she murmured. A joke, mostly. But in this city, reputation was everything.

I reached across the table, my fingers sliding over hers. Her skin was warm, a sharp contrast to the sterile air of the cafe.

"I wouldn’t dream of it, babe. You’re the only one who actually keeps me interested. Evelyn was just… a placeholder while you were finishing that stint in London."

Sienna’s smile widened, triumphant and predatory. She took a slow sip of her drink, letting the silence stretch before hitting me with the real question.

"So… when are you ending it with her? Properly."

I felt my shoulders tense. The "Evelyn problem." It was a mess I hadn't quite cleaned up yet.

"Soon," I said, my voice dropping an octave. "I have to time it. If I drop her now, she’ll make a scene at Kensington Tech. I don't need HR breathing down my neck because I dumped the 'golden girl' for my new marketing lead."

Sienna scoffed, pulling her hand away and crossing her arms.

"Fine. Just don't take forever. I’m not a fan of sharing."

I reached out again, firmer this time, my thumb stroking the back of her hand.

"I know. Give me a week."

She scanned the room quickly, ensuring no familiar faces were watching, then leaned in closer. Her voice was a low, velvet purr.

"So, she’s definitely not coming by your place today?"

"Definitely not," I replied. "She’s stuck at her apartment with the Reeves' family reunion."

Sienna’s lips curved into a wicked line.

"In that case… take me to your penthouse. Now."

I checked my watch. 10:30 a.m.

"Now? It's the middle of the morning."

She winked, a slow, deliberate movement that made my pulse spike.

"Hunger doesn't keep a schedule, Archer."

I didn't need more convincing. I signaled for the check, tossed a few bills on the table, and held the door open for her. She hooked her arm through mine as we stepped out into the humid New York heat, heading straight for my car.

***

POV: Evelyn

The interior of the car was freezing, the AC blasting a dry, metallic chill that did nothing to stop the sweat on my palms. Across the street, the world was moving in slow motion.

Archer.

And Sienna.

I watched them step out of the bistro. They looked perfect. Like a high-end advertisement for a life I thought I was building. Archer’s hand was on the small of her back—the same way he used to hold me.

My breath hitched, a jagged, broken sound in the quiet cabin of the car. I squeezed the tissue in my hand until it was nothing but white dust and shredded fiber.

"Evie…" Sophie’s voice was soft, hesitant. She was gripping the steering wheel so hard her knuckles were white. "Are you sure you want to keep watching this?"

"I don't know, Soph… I don't know anything anymore." My voice broke. The tears were hot, blurring the sight of them disappearing into Archer's black sedan. "I gave him everything. I let him into my world, my bed… I trusted him with parts of me I’ve never shown anyone. And he’s… he’s just…"

Sophie’s face hardened. Her eyes flashed with a protective rage that I couldn't yet feel through the numbness.

"He’s a goddamn snake," she hissed.

Archer’s car pulled out of the parking lot, merging into the Midtown traffic.

"Follow them," I whispered.

"Evelyn, don't. The evidence is right there. You don't need to see more."

I turned to her, my eyes stinging. "Please. I need to see the bottom of this. I need to be sure before I burn it all down."

Sophie exhaled, a long, defeated sound. She shifted the car into gear, keeping a three-car gap between us and Archer’s sedan.

The drive was a blur of gray concrete and red brake lights. When Archer’s car turned into the private drive of his Tribeca building, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by a cold hand.

He was taking her home.

My home. Our supposed future.

"He brought her there," I choked out, the sob finally ripping through my throat. "He brought her to the penthouse… the place where I… where we…"

I couldn't finish the sentence. The memory of the first night we spent there, the promises he made against my skin, felt like a physical assault.

Sophie grabbed my shoulder, her grip grounding me. "I had no idea he was this much of a sociopath, Evie. I’m so sorry."

Outside, Archer walked around the car to open the door for Sienna. He was smiling. That same devastatingly handsome smile that had convinced me to move my entire life for him.

Sienna tucked her arm into his, leaning her head on his shoulder as they walked toward the lobby. There was no hesitation. No guilt. Just two people going up to enjoy their morning.

I watched until the glass doors closed behind them, my jaw tight, the salt of my tears stinging the corners of my mouth.

"Take me home, Soph," I whispered. "I’ve seen enough."

***

POV: Archer

The penthouse was silent as the elevator doors slid open. Sienna stepped out first, her heels clicking against the dark hardwood floors as she surveyed the living room with a critical, satisfied eye.

I followed her, the heavy thud of the door closing behind us signaling the start of the only thing I cared about right now.

Sienna tilted her head, her gaze drifting toward the oversized sofa.

"So, this is where you and Evelyn play house?" she asked, her voice light, teasing.

I stepped up behind her, my hands sliding around her waist, pulling her back against my chest.

"Don't mention her name," I muttered into the crook of her neck. "Besides, you’ve gotten much more demanding since you got back. It’s barely noon and you’re already back for more."

Sienna laughed, a low, melodic sound. She leaned her head back against my shoulder, her hands covering mine.

"I can't help it. You’re addictive, Archer."

I turned her around in my arms, my fingers tangling in her hair. I led her down the hallway toward the master suite, the air between us thick and heavy.

I pushed the bedroom door open. There was no more talking. Just the rustle of clothes hitting the floor and the sharp, urgent heat of two people who didn't care who they broke to get what they wanted.