bouncing off the mirrored windows in blinding shards. Adaline stepped into the lobby wearing her

hop's glass office, clutching a freshly bound

reston's head snap up. His m

he closed door, muffled but unmistakab

a blinding gleam. She swiped her badge. The doors slid open. Behind her, she heard

tor. Turned. Met his eyes

perate-as the metal doors slid shut,

er fingertips. Her pulse hammered. Her stomach churned. She closed her eyes, and for a split second, she saw Kory's fa

w. She'd survive this day first

The doors opened onto

the heavy oak doors of the boardroom. She didn't knock. She pushed both doors open, the wood groani

of the polished mahogany ta

H

a dead, resonant crack that silenced the room. Papers fann

oom. "Director Bishop pulled me from the Croft account this morning, citing 'management issues.' What

ient relationships. The retention matrix I built-page twelve-shows an eighty-seven percent drop in proje

the dossier toward himself, flipping through th

meline. "Page forty-three. A comparative analysis of Preston's performance metrics versus indus

's en

kew, sweat beading on his forehead. "Gentlemen, I am

down, P

at against the mahogany. The crack w

th hung open. The colo

is flawless. We will compromise. You will co-lead the Croft account, Ms. Hayes. You retain full oversight of vendor r

ribs. Fifty percent-not the full amo

's gaze. "Thank you, gentl

ing Preston sweating under the

ve surge of victory rushed through her vein

d-violent, insistent,

t. Instead, the breathless voice of

al right now! A VIP guest is visiting Angu

d turned to ic

himself as Chan