a man's voice buzzed from the phone propped against her pillows. she filed a long, pointed nail, her eyes on the city below.

"the deal was mine from the start," he said.

"that must have been very difficult for you," she said without looking at the screen.

her laptop lit up with messages.
maya: is he doing it yet?
sasha: tell him we need the suite with the pool.
chloe: make him pay for everything.

"you should fly out," he told her. "i'll send the jet."

"but my friends," she sighed. "i promised them a trip for my birthday."

a bank notification appeared on her phone.

on the laptop screen, maya typed: he did it. we're going.

her phone screen changed. a call from chloe. she swiped to answer, ending his call instantly.

"hey," she said. "he sent it. book the tickets."