ra

constant hum of the server rooms, it was a world completely devoid of the suffocating, territori

ed skin snagged against the rough fabric of my sleeve with every small motion-a constant, aching reminder of the mornin

before I could sit, Chloe popped her head over my cubicle wall. She was

t orange corner peeking out of my bag. Before I could stop her, she

morning. But hearing the words spoken aloud-spoken by someone who assumed I was simpl

t is," I said,

ivering news I hadn't yet pieced together. "You only buy these useless add-ons to build enough purchase history for the real prize. A silver-fr

forum posts, the transaction patterns, the cold arithmetic of Adrian's betrayal. Chloe's gossip cha

I said

ir in the open-plan office shifted. The sterile scent of filtered air was v

down the aisle. She was supposed to arrive next week-Adrian had said so himself-but here she was, a day early, representing he

s dripped with condescension as she looked

nal tasks," Seraphina purred, making sure the word 'Omega'

k, the pain grounding me, keeping my voice steady. "The foundation is

sensed an invisible, chilling weight in my tone. Unable to assert dominance over a woman who refused to co

irkin swaying from her arm. She disappeared through

in spreadsheets, forcing my mind to focus on numbe

saw her

ith quick, purposeful steps, heading not toward the exit but toward the elevators that led to the parkin

n't loo

elevator slid shut behi

ainty settl

f to grip properly. I opened the Pack security tracking app-a digital

as parked near a five-star hotel in a neutral terr

map. The blue

d, but unmistakably Seraphina's personal veh

both dot

her arrival date so she could slip into the city unnoticed. She had come to my office to g

th her. R

ds before Adrian's blue dot abruptly

didn't want to be tracke

al, her smug face in my cubicle-the pieces locke

ock on my monitor. Five hours until my shift ended. Tonight,