ra
constant hum of the server rooms, it was a world completely devoid of the suffocating, territori
ed skin snagged against the rough fabric of my sleeve with every small motion-a constant, aching reminder of the mornin
before I could sit, Chloe popped her head over my cubicle wall. She was
t orange corner peeking out of my bag. Before I could stop her, she
morning. But hearing the words spoken aloud-spoken by someone who assumed I was simpl
t is," I said,
ivering news I hadn't yet pieced together. "You only buy these useless add-ons to build enough purchase history for the real prize. A silver-fr
forum posts, the transaction patterns, the cold arithmetic of Adrian's betrayal. Chloe's gossip cha
I said
ir in the open-plan office shifted. The sterile scent of filtered air was v
down the aisle. She was supposed to arrive next week-Adrian had said so himself-but here she was, a day early, representing he
s dripped with condescension as she looked
nal tasks," Seraphina purred, making sure the word 'Omega'
k, the pain grounding me, keeping my voice steady. "The foundation is
sensed an invisible, chilling weight in my tone. Unable to assert dominance over a woman who refused to co
irkin swaying from her arm. She disappeared through
in spreadsheets, forcing my mind to focus on numbe
saw her
ith quick, purposeful steps, heading not toward the exit but toward the elevators that led to the parkin
n't loo
elevator slid shut behi
ainty settl
f to grip properly. I opened the Pack security tracking app-a digital
as parked near a five-star hotel in a neutral terr
map. The blue
d, but unmistakably Seraphina's personal veh
both dot
her arrival date so she could slip into the city unnoticed. She had come to my office to g
th her. R
ds before Adrian's blue dot abruptly
didn't want to be tracke
al, her smug face in my cubicle-the pieces locke
ock on my monitor. Five hours until my shift ended. Tonight,
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