footsteps retreat down the hall. Zayden was gone

d you ju

didn't believe me, but he didn

ed at me again-my father and Mr. Wu shaking hands under a company banner. Behind them, the

way back, and I was holdi

one b

i

ressed the phone to my

eager," she chuckled. "

tension holding my

sked me to check up on the Wu family company, specifical

I wa

ries. It never went public, but whispers suggest Mr. Wu pulled out of the deal last minute. And guess w

around the phone. "

g power play. Also, there were rumours your father was desp

'd heard whispers. Saw the cracks before the colla

internal communications. Some investor memos tha

u," I sai

don't get so

all e

with bad decisions, Qi leaned across a plush

Wu's company?" she said, twirling a cockta

tossing her phone

ows. Told her about the merger and how her dad b

elieve

akness. She trusts me because I've always been the loud

rfect. We'll push her just

t's

nt her isolated. Doubtful. And when the time's right,

asses like witc

I plugged in the flas

ld boardroom emails signed off by R. Wu. One message stood out-"If Lim can'

later, Lim Gr

screen until m

ing. He was set up to fail. And th

hear the

, voice low behind me. "You think they'r

rled

my drawer keys-the ones I thought we

umped. "Ho

make copies in my own house?"

e drawer still slightly ajar, t

you want,

burned

said slowly, "what yo