her way to her office she passed her assistant coming out of the break room with a china cup of coffee in her hand. Severine Belloc did not believe in coffee mugs or paper cups and she was too frugal to splurge on coffee shop caffeine.

“Who is that in the conference room?” Allegra asked.

Severine looked a bit annoyed. “Ask Sina,” she said. Then she took in Allegra’s jeans. “Is this casual Friday?” she asked in a disapproving tone. Severine did not believe in casual Fridays.

“I have to go out to my mother’s storage unit this afternoon,” Allegra said defensively, well aware that on her best day she couldn’t approach Severine’s level of effortless chic. “I want to see if there are any flat ankle boots.”

Sever...

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