inancial district

ck coffee in my hand. On the massive screen mounted on the wa

er ten million dollars have been siphoned from the company's offshore accounts overnight. The FBI and federal regulators have

of my coffee. It w

rs were in a panic, pointing fingers at each other. My hackers had done their job perfe

I made

ghts outside. I dialed the direct line to Julian's office. His s

logies, how m

nt Thorne Capital. I have a proposition for Mr. Vance regarding his current

e. Then a click.

an Va

years. It sounded the same. Arrogant, smooth, and e

lem. I am also aware that if you do not secure a capital injection before the gala tomorr

use. Longe

you?" h

. "And I am willing to sit down with you and discuss a buyout. But I will only do i

efore he co

-

Julian Vance walked i

ere rimmed with red from lack of sleep. But when he saw

the dark room. My hair was slicked back, my makeup sharp and m

om my heels to my face. There was a flicker of som

ecovering his composure

walked past him and

d. "Let's get stra

ps. He sat in the chair across from me. "Straight to busines

bank calls in your loans. I am offering to buy the majority of your shares at a dis

ng me. "You're offering to save my comp

," I said. "Once you're back on your feet, the stock will recover

. Then he laughed. It was

d. "I've met a lot of businesswomen in my li

I look at yo

t to destroy

blink. "M

a fraction of a second.

rms," he said. "L

otiated. He tried to outsmart me, but I was always one step ahead. I knew hi

my side. He was standing very close to me now. I could smell his cologne.

ally do this. But I'm going to be honest with yo

. For a moment, I wondered if he recognized something. A

aw only a cold, bea

aid, my voice cold as ice. "This is a

the room, my heels clicki

self to breathe. My heart was pounding, but not from

my phone and

set. He too

came a sec

ful, swe

Vance was going to learn the hard way that the