xi, her heart still hammering again

s, please," she told the driver,

ulled out from the curb two cars behind her, blen

rom her purse, checking her reflection. The woman staring back was flushed, her eyes bright with anger, bu

ark contrast to the old-world, imposing granite of the Madden Tow

a for Human Resources was tastefully decorated in shades of grey and blue. And sitting in

om Apex Dynamics who had always looked a

ts?" she said, her voice just loud enough for the HR assistant at the desk t

was a deli

n anymore," she said, her voice even. "And som

altered, her perfectly

istant called, saving Apr

sharp and assessing. April answered calmly and confidently, drawing on the three years she'd spent managing a household staff,

llent, Ms. Potts," he said, leaning back in hi

im. A man in a sharp, tailored suit strode

s," the man said, his voice

uard's New York operations. His eyes scanned the re

his lips. "Welcome to Vanguard. However, your po

cus both star

s gaze intense. "He requires a personal assistant. Someone efficient, discreet, and utterly reliab

gah Madden. They weren't just hirin

ead?" April asked

Bonner," J

he opportunity was immense. This was

he said witho

her hand, Veronica was still waiting. She saw the folder in April's hand

d stepped into the elevator, the doors

he street, Sheldon Hayes lowered his

e's been hired as the personal assistant to their ne

ge of his mahogany desk. Silence stretched over the line, thick and dangerous. The only

ost brilliant, most

otts. H

s mind, creating an explosio