title: Defining Moments
author: Clark, Melody
description: Longtime friends and business partners Alfredo and Katherine have built a New York architectural empire together. They're about to embark on their boldest building project ever. They don't realize that one long-time enemy will use it to do what no one has ever done -- split them apart. But the splitting apart drives them together in a way they never thought possible, as the secret flame of twenty years catches their lives on fire. "Damn it," she gasped loudly, finally looking around, a dim memory telescoping in her like some trope shot from an Orson Welles film ... an extended recollection that only deepened as she recognized the color of the double doors from a different side. "How dare you do this to me?" "How dare you do this to me? You tested your feelings for me," he said. "Feelings you were so terrified of telling me about, you let him blackmail you." "I was trying to save our business " "You were trying to stay in control, same as always " Her mouth gaped open and didn't close for a long moment. She walked toward him, while maintaining a tight hold on her anger. "I have to stay in control? We don't call you the raja for nothing " He walked closer, until they were face to face. "Oh, I know we both have to be in control, Catarina. We're both just as smart, just as stubborn, just as strong. In fact, the one thing in our lives we can't control is each other. Oh, God, but it would be so hot to try." She didn't back away an inch. "Take your best shot."