Chapter 40

“Right on schedule,” Emma muttered.

“You knew this would happen?” Alek asked, confused.

“Grandpa’s idea of marriage counseling.” Emma leaned against the wall. “We’re stuck for thirty minutes, supposedly to force conversation.”

“Effective, if unorthodox.” Alek loosened his tie. “We do need to talk.”

“About the photos,” Emma said flatly.

“Yes.” Alek met her gaze directly. “It wasn’t what it looked like.”

“It looked like you having an intimate dinner with your ex-fiancée,” Emma said. “The same dinner you lied about.”

“I didn’t lie about its purpose,” Alek insisted. “It was to establish boundaries, to make it clear to Elise that our past is irrelevant to her current position.”

“And the embrace outside the restaurant?”

Alek sighed, running a hand through his hair. “She was upset. I was being polite.”

“Polite,” Emma repeated skeptically.

“Yes, polite.” Irritation edged Alek’s voice. “She tried to suggest we might rekindled