Page 237 of Say My Name

She gives me a flat look. “That's the most billionaire thing you've said all week.”

“It’s Tuesday.” A smile breaks free before I can stop it. That sharp, dry edge to her humor is one of my favorite things about her.

Her mouth twitches. She shifts the baby against her hip and wipes a small, sticky hand with the cloth I pass her.

“How did the presentation go?”

“The independent directors approved the restructuring proposal.”

“I know.”

Her eyes narrow. “How?”

“Evan texted me.”

“Evan wasn't in the meeting.”

“He heard from Olivia.”

“Olivia wasn't in the meeting either.”

“She heard from Maya.”

Elena closes her eyes. “Of course she did.”

“They're proud of you.”

“They're incapable of respecting normal information channels.”

“Both can be true.” I nudge her shoulder with mine, watching the tension from the board meeting finally leave her face. “I’m proud of you, Elena.”

Her phone rings against the island. Maya's name appears on the screen.

“You should probably answer that.”

“I'm eating dinner.”

“You aren’t eating.” I point this out gently, knowing exactly where this is going.

“I'm supervising.”

“You were reading committee notes.”

“That too.”

She picks up the phone. “Hi, Maya.”

I remove the tray and carry it to the sink while Maya's voice comes through loudly enough for me to hear her congratulating Elena again.

“Yes, I saw the questions,” Elena says. “No, I’m not answering them tonight. Dominic made dinner.” The simple, declarative fact of it calms something deep inside me. It’s a boundary she’s drawing for us.

I turn on the faucet.

“No, that does not mean he ordered it,” she adds.

“Tell her I'm offended.”

“He says he’s offended.” She doesn’t look up from unsticking the baby’s fingers from her hair, but the corner of her mouth is twitching.