und. Serena Vale stood very still as the n

ty-

xt

ty-

een eyes calm, even though her stomach had started to twist a little. Her mouth wore a so

ayed relaxed

g. No signs

to get here. She would

hrough the rotating automatic glass doors that morning, she felt the change in the air. The building was mo

ery top of i

n Bla

behind t

was powerful, rich, and ruthless. Some called him brilli

ng to work dire

floor. The soft ding echoed like a h

teppe

wood. The walls were a smooth slate gray. Everything felt expensive but serious. Like

. A woman sat behind it, typing something on a sc

arly," the

e nod. "I like to g

unimpressed. Then she tapp

ll meet you i

me. She could feel her body trying to adjust to something she could not explain. Her skin felt weird. Her breath felt t

n hallway. He had rolled-up sleeves, rough blond hair, and a ca

n Cr

second-in

a once-over,

t be Ser

and offered her ha

ong but calm. "I have heard y

it easy," S

he Westbrook report I saw ly

s table. Ethan poured her a glass cup of espresso

ncomfortable," he said

N

are when they

ot most

more real with a little more weig

prep

"Do you have any idea what y

Damien Bla

what the world says about

y. She drank from the coffee

e said. "I came here to work. I came h

ink this is

he room behind all

owly, then stoo

e

arge, black double doors. There were n

before them an

irst impression wit

the doors. "Then I a

ok. Then he opened the

lked i

windows behind the desk was so big it stretched from floor to ceiling. The city when you looked below

here

the window, his back to he

ught, but onl

ted. His hair was black, nea

l like the floor had

ooking into somethi

eady knew everything she was

early,"

ke to

ilence for a few se

come here the

ighter. "To do wo

what they

are no

her

ard, not fast, just stea

N

not scare

uld

not a

st st

t hum under her skin. Like s

down. His posture stayed perfect.

rt to me direc

hought I would be reporti

any

d her hea

nswer. He di

gently, looked at it,

tomorrow. Eigh

ll be

en, as she turned to go,

more

ooked

er hours," he said. His ton

hy

d on hers. "It

r w

r y

ith her long after

than before. Her steps echoed softly down the hallway, and

ot safe

lly looked like. Not just boardroom politics or co

edge of the long bench. The coffee Ethan had poured

esting on her knees. Her eyes watching at the

dly cruel. He had not raised his voice. He barely moved. But the tension in the roo

like a question t

something respond to him

ething

ead softly and

in mystery. Not now. Not when she had wo

in her chest ha

still repeating in her mi

e top floor

not

an protecting his company's security sys

hing

he city below. The skyline stretched for miles, full of noise an

etimes the most beautiful pl

d Tower was

nto, her reflection hovered faintly in the glass. Her own green eye

her. Something that had

that had n

was c

d started