HIS COLD GAZE MY SECRET FLAME

ves belong to people you care about"echoed like a warning in her chest. She dressed slowly, choosing a crisp wh

Project Nexus's true scope, insist on transparency, and, if necessary, leverage Mark's assistance to expose whatever lay beneath. When the doors slid open, she s

it open. The room was empty, save for the sleek desk and the black folder still resting in its usual place. Her fingers itched to open it again, bu

broke the sil

uette backlit by the pale sky. He wore a gray suit today, t

he door behind him and moved to his desk, sliding int

did. But I have questions about Nexus, about the

fingers, his gaze

asset transfers that it's a power network. Whose power? And w

reaches into governments, into industries beyond Kursh. It's a safeguard aga

on secrecy and offshore accounts? Yo

, absolutely. As for you no one else has your discretion. You're

oking for a crack in the

I found someone else. But be warned many who cross me learn that d

o a world where loyalty and fear were intertwined and the li

ened again. Mark slipped inside, his

ed to him, interes

ervers was flagged this morning security detected

re stiffened.

oice was tight. "It's traced

. "London? That's half

his jacket. "This changes everything. Lucia, you need to get me a full report logs, timestam

harged with urgency. Brian turned

her shoulder

nce between them, lowering his voice. "Be careful. This probe could be

gaze. "I u

ightly on the fold

entry was a puzzle piece in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. She cross referenced the London IP against th

bes corresponded to nights when Brian had left late. Was

g, but she couldn't stop. Every discovery brought more questions: Who wanted int

mped. It was a message : "Mr. Bethel

t the head of the table, Mark at his side, and several IT analysts ho

s cold. "What h

er, likely a shell operated by a third party. The IP has been used twice before, but both incidents were dismiss

urtly. "And

lding, sir," she said. "Either someone is using yo

analysts. Brian's jaw tighten

ll need direct access to the security log

"Arrange the cooperation. And Lucia k

felt the weight of his command settle on her shoulders

for a quick break. He slid into the booth across fro

le. "Thanks. But we're

s played with fire, but this... this is

of her cup. "Or wan

s, you're at the center.

ivious to the power struggle unfolding above them. She wondered how many

n's gray. She opened her laptop to continue tracing the London IP, but her though

stirrings in her heart whenever Brian's gaze lingered on her. This was more than

And she realized that in order to survive and protect those she loved she would have to navi

d not be undone. And in the world Brian B