res back into a mask of professional calm. She grabbed her purse, and the t

rd a narrow, dimly lit alley in Soho. They stopped in

en scanner. The door clicked open,

g heavily of expensive cigars and aged bourbon. Low, rhythmic jazz p

, leading Thea to a secluded, velvet

lently slid two custom dry martinis onto

e gulp, the alcohol burning down her thr

g over Thea's bleeding body flashed behind Elena's eyes. A sharp ache gripped her chest, and the edges of

r boss's eyes. "Are you okay? Is the scandal getting

down and looked Thea dead in the eye.

"I work for you, Elena.

She pulled out a thick manila enve

scanned the legal documen

e contract. The title listed at the top was Chief of Staff for the CEO, g

her bag and pressed it firmly

hea stammered, her hands shaking as she rea

g no room for argument. "I need an absolute loyalist with voting po

pen tightly and signed her name on the dotted

he brief moment of warmth vanishing. "Tomorrow morning, you

Financial Officer, the VP of Opera

e company for twenty years. If you

or three years," Elena said coldly.

ive encrypted file to Thea's inbox. "All th

a sudden shift in the room'

at the entrance. The

ng a perfectly tailored black suit that clung to his bro

ar, instantly cutting through the smoke

ooked past his shoulder, she saw the usually arrogant bar manager bowing respectfully to him. Of course. The underground establish

ied to approach him. He walked straight toward the

She immediately stood up, stepping in fr

he sheer physical dominance radiating from

. His eyes remained fixed o

aid, his voice a low, vibrating rumble that cut t