Beneath the Velvet Lie I

like it had been carved from a single slab of obsidian. Wolfhart Dynami

last time in my compact mirror. Gone was the seductress from last night's gala. Today, Reyna Lancaster was all bus

able, and credentials that would pass even the most thorough background check. Lance

ce. "Remember, you're not applying to be his assistant. That's too obvious. You're aiming f

button on my watch.

sian's s

ntil eleven. He won't see

this position without hi

e. The revolving glass doors of Wolfhart Dynamics b

massive digital wall displaying Wolfhart's latest innovations. Security was tight but discree

re a woman with a perfect blonde chi

ce cool and assured. "I have an i

, you're expected on the forty-second floor. Take the executive elevator t

materialized beside m

bullet. I could feel my heart rate climbing with every floor, not fr

elf. For all the others

rniture, with splashes of Wolfhart's signature blue accents. The interview itself was textbook: behavioral ques

to seem authentic. When they asked why I wanted to work for Wolfhart Dynamics

lk. "What impresses me most isn't just the innovation-it's the values behind it. This company

ployees-nodded, satisfied. "Well, Ms. Lancaster, your credentials are impressive. We jus

quite reached my eyes. As I gathered my portfo

e was. Cass

of surprise quickly replaced by

hiskey, "I thought I mentioned I wanted to sit in

rt, I was told you were in b

gaze never left mine. "Ms. Lanc

y hand. "Mr. Wolfhart. I di

second too long. "Funny, I was thin

Communicati

eyes narrowed slightly.

ging. Particularly for tech firms with

mouth lifted in a

e to speak with Ms. Lancaster

he room with practiced deference.

casual but his eyes sharp. "Of all the positions in my company, you chose

company has its challenges. I excel

tory, Reyna? The file says you've worked for three tech s

" I replied. "The best strategic min

to peel back layers with just his gaze. "The

ut flinching. "Perhaps tha

med his face for a moment. "Bold. I like that." He strai

y thrown off balanc

toward the door. "But not f

ightened. "T

eone who can think three steps ahead. Someone who isn't afraid to speak truth to p

s crackled with u

ened the door. "Oh, and Reyna? Don't bother with the us

tanding in a room that suddenl

zed in my po

appened? You were supposed

e of plans. I'm in. But

e?" H

walked through, a chill running down

personal team.

ected. Dangerous

you mean."

the fox into his den. He thought he was the one setting

detail of my fake identity, every fabricated credential, every practiced smile-

I stood at the window overlooking

Ash Lennox's voice was tight with c

line. "This is better. I'll have access to his private files,

u close because he

y eyes. "H

know that

intrigued, not suspicious. Men like Cassian Wolfhart don't se

ople-they don't play by regular rules.

y wo

e-clothes I'd never worn before, purchased specifically for Reyna Lancaster. Conservative but expens

ll thumb drive-encrypted, virtually untraceable. T

gently, then

p that medicine couldn't explain. The doctors called it trauma-indu

e empty room. "The first lie work

to face with the devil again. Onl

me had