nvelope with surprising strength. The

I cried, reaching for

pe out of my reach. Her eyes were bright with a cold,

pen lobby. Her gaze fell on a

ster will get you a meeting with a billionaire?" she said, he

m, her nails digg

tried to pull away

agging me toward the lounge door. "I' m going to te

e door shut. The click of the lock echoed in the sudden sil

er. The sharp edge dug into

t listen to m

held up the manila envelope. "Let' s se

rate motion, she tor

for it, but she p

head hitting the linoleum with a du

s entire medical history. The letters from doctors, the test re

ering the papers onto the floor. "So much effort. Really, y

page, the one with A

r voice dripping with mock sympathy.

n the floor amidst the scattered

ing down so her face was level with mine.

t and slapped me

ad snapped to the side. I lay there,

lying," she

in my heart. The doctor' s referral. The surgical proposal. The page

or thinking you

onfetti of our las

red, the words choked with tea

obsessive fervor. "You think you can come here and get your claws into him? I have dedicated my l

strial trash can in the corner. She held

ying to push myself up. My b

uly terrifying,

et the pi

the darkness of the bin.

ith horror. The delay. The doctor' s words

e remaining papers on the floor, smearing

nd emptied its contents onto the floor. A half-eaten granola bar, my keys, a

with her toe. "Tryin

the trash," I said, my voice shaking with a r

nd. "Your sister' s life? Don' t be

The message is what' s important. And the messa