HIS COLD GAZE MY SECRET FLAME

p with sweat, her mind still echoing Brian's final words from yesterday: "No

uld entail, but she knew there was no turning back. Folding back the covers, she reached

eps measured. The corridor was empty, but the hush felt ominous. In Brian's offic

ompany dossier. All five fronts address, directors, financials.

lowed. "Un

s‑check it with internal ledgers. Flag any inconsistencies. And

pounded.

een, as if dismissing her, but she s

ed the first folder-Phoenix Holdings Ltd.-and scanned the incorporation documents. Nothing illegal at f

h‑merger shell

ed with Kursh's internal registry. No m

of the "opera

records, satellite images, and corporate filings. Ever

cubicle, as if materializing from

going?" he

cing around. "I'm...

reful. You're poking around

between trust and fear.

vet these documents. Two heads are better than on

warred in her c

and together they dove into the ne

es left for lunch. Lucia and Mark pored over Aurora'

y office. N

. She closed the la

hand on her ar

, clutching the USB

ectric. He motioned to a sleek coffee

steady her hands. When she turned

" he asked

e. "I've verified two of the five she

window, looking out at the city. "Good

admiration and dread. "I still don

cker of something like regret. "Nexus is more than an asset‑shuffle.

eath caugh

those lives belong to

nded. "What a

rasp. "Be careful who you trust. Because once you'r

t, the city lights shimmering through her window. The

ds: "Some lives belong t

er sister naïve, trusting. To h

ey be in

orrow, she would confront Brian

old gaze, watchful, powerful, and more secret than ever. And she realized