d the Barlowes, their public face of celebration now a mask for private fury, had decided

but determined. Jett had summoned him to play his part in the public exec

ty. He offered no resistance, his calm demeanor an u

formed a circle, a

nter, puffing out his chest. He po

. "On behalf of Uber Technologies, for your violent and unprovoked

from the crowd. "Furthermore," he added, "your file will be flagged.

he guests. Jett and Genevieve stood

dn't change. He didn't

leek, unfamiliar device looked alien in his ha

ce answered immediately.

w brows to furrow, but most d

u to terminate all global corporate partnership agreements

ed by a ripple of snicker

ervice provided by his Ninverton regional operations manager, a Mr. Gregory Tanner, was

d without a moment's hesitation. "

ended t

seconds before it erupted. Not with fe

omeone shouted. "H

eyes. "Oh, Connor," he wheezed. "The delusions are

athetic, resorting to such childish fantasies. He glanced at his watch,

e began to shriek. A fra

D made his b

TH AMERIC

. He stumbled away from the crowd, his

om Gregory's face, leaving it a pasty, sweaty grey. They saw his eyes widen in sheer te

nnual contract with the Hoffman Group-their single largest corporate account-had been vaporized. A voice that had b

he phone's tiny speaker. "The Hoffman Group just pulled everythin

middle distance, his wor

eyes as cold and unfor

w, was only