an the cold, pressing against my chest long

e, beaming in front of the sustainable housing complex I had designed for my senior thesi

coat against the chill that came from

antiseptic, stale ai

was still.

mine. It felt fragi

brushing her knuckles. "Though I suppos

the time o

a messag

on. Thr

tantaneous. "I am

wn life. I drifted from the sterile silence of the hospital to the c

n didn'

I sa

ewsstand I passed, flickering on the TV s

Kayla Bennett: The Pow

ng in, whispering something into her ear. She was throwing her h

oked

tting by my mother's bedsi

n't a

arrison'

out of place amidst the sterile beige and blinking monitors,

lly. She didn't even glance at

sked, my vo

stiffly, his tone brokering no argument. "We

bedside table, dangerously clo

ore the merger," he explained, adjusting hi

ed the

transfer

I had bought with every cent of my father's life insurance money

ero d

my shares?" I asked, sta

warmth. "You are still part of the family, aren't you? It is just paperwork.

on?" I asked, cl

r opene

his gaze fixed on the floo

was wi

around her wrist. She clung to h

said. His voice wa

idea?" I held

were guarded. "Kayla... Kayla needs security. If the merger goes

ealing mine to

raspy and theatrical. "Garrison said you don't ca

ng second, the mask slipped. I saw

r bandaged wrist. "After what happened..

pped, glaring at me with undisguised venom. "Because you refuse to

ked a

. The husband who took my lif

ttled over me, silenci

ign," I s

ne surprise breaking thro

e cond

older with a d

you have to

?" he asked

Kayla poison

only sound was the rhythmic h

ison's chest, her shoulders shaking. "

ation!" Mr. Gardner shou

, locking eyes

bury it. I know Kayla gave her that 'herbal tea' three months ago. A

ce turned the

k

olutel