en's

dimly lit, the shadows of dusk creeping in through the window. The world outside was darkening, but inside, thi

eals, the offshore accounts, the illegal side agreements Osmond thought were buried deep-

d. There was no need for pleasantries. We ha

the other end responded c

g, but by the time I was done with him, he'd be left with nothing. Mrs. Osmond had been more than willing to c

was going to l

ace when the meeting fell apart. But b

*

a room built for power. Men and women in suits surrounded the large oak table, their faces set in cold, calculating expressions

smile when he saw me sitting at the far end of the table, flanked by my team. He w

ity. "I didn't expect you to show up so early. I tho

"Defeat? That's funny, Carlos. But I wouldn't s

really think you're going to win today? My company's presentation will

ly. "We'll se

think you're a player, but you're just a kid pretending to sit at the big boys' table. I've been in

e edge of ruin. "I'll give you this, Osmond, you're goo

down? I built this empire from the ground up, boy. You're just play

my voice low and laced with menace. "You m

cond, his eyes narrowing. "What

. "Oh, nothing. We'll see who's got t

Osmond's company went first, as planned. His executives strutted to the front, puffed up like peacocks, ready to deliver what they thought wa

knew b

along, but I could see the uncertainty in their eyes. They weren't s

resentation, I signaled

rrupted, holding up a folder. "We've recently come across some... tro

silent. Osmond

" my lawyer continued. "They've been altered to deceiv

faces quickly shifting from confusion to anger. Osmond shot to his feet, his

ts across the table. "Here's the real data. Your little

their faces contorted with fury. "You thought you c

ing there, dumbfounded, his world collapsing around him. His

e was enough as I picked up my phone and left the room, lea

*

h me as I drove home. My phone buzzed. I glan

el

voice purred. "You still

nearby street corner. There she was, dressed to kill, her eyes gleaming with

I said, my

my penthouse was a blur, my mind still buzzing from the victory at the me

ds off her. Her lips were on mine before the door even fully closed,

her closer, feeling the warmth of her body through the thin fabric of her dress. She moaned softl

s about to lose myself

r of

dim light of the hallway. Eyes

hing s

led away, my breath catching in my throat. T

shadows, was someone I hadn

uttered quietly