Beneath the Velvet Lie I

rvation. I learned the rhythms of the place, when security changed shifts, which executi

had unprecedented access, the wolf had invited the fox into his den without r

eyes misse

," Cassian said, breaking the s

of competitor vulnerabilities that he'd asked me to review "with f

ay me for," I replied,

tling intensity that seemed to be his default setting. "

on neutral. "Strategic analysis. Identifyi

hat overlooked the city. "But there's something more in the way

pen carefully.

expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eye

erious charm. "Maybe that's why we work wel

enough." He glanced at his watch. "I have a board meeting in five minutes. F

cour

paused at the door. "Oh, and Reyna? Don't work t

ning-or perhaps an invitation. I cou

hat in mind,

center of his immaculate desk. Then I waited, counting minutes, watching the el

as my

ion area. "Mr. Wolfhart asked me to pull some files from archives while he's in his m

; barely looked up from his monitor. "Ne

ot it,

k. Instead of going down to archives, I pressed the button for the forty-eighth floor, D

er room is your golden ticket. Whatever they've got on Maya, whatev

the executive levels-dimly lit with blue-tinted lights, rows of glass-walled server ro

of infiltration was simply confidence-walk like you

er that housed Wolfhart's most sensitive data. I pulled out the security badge Lance had doctored for me-a perfect replica of a

card and he

ppened. Then the light flashed green, a

mmed with quiet power, blue indicator lights blinking in hypnotic patterns. The a

ad given me. It would create a temporary backdoor into the system-not enough to d

under my fingers as I type

E,

NT REPORT

L INVES

ATION

got, I frowned, then

BLOWER

LATION

PROTECTION

encrypted files. I selected the most recent one, d

avily redacted document, but c

y in the R.T. situati

ants understand conseq

ackage with enhanced con

's supervisor-the one she'd

-proof that the company had actively covered up the harassment. I downloaded the

rsonal." Cassian's private files. I hesitate

ther password.

ption cracker disguised as a compact mirror. As I connected it

ootsteps

a man was saying, his voice growing closer. "Wolfha

ll the windows I'd opened. There was no time to properl

ept

e door swung open. Two men entered-one in a securi

rity guard said. "He was suppo

coffee. You know how he

e cold metal of the server seeping through my blouse. T

aid, moving to the terminal I'd just

art s

" the gua

he executive files, but it doesn'

o the screen. "Could be

ers flew across the keyboa

ay out except past them. If they found me here, the enti

rated in my pocke

l security personnel report to the main

d. "Duty calls.

l just finish the di

h between me and escape. I needed a distraction-someth

one. The text was from Lance saying "Triggere

Lance always had

the building, not the fire alarm, but a sec

oor, hesitating between staying with t

slipped out from behind the server and made for the secondary exit-

behind me. They'd spotted me. I kicked off my heels, grabbed t

a hand shot through the gap-stron

d as the doors

nd of surprise and something darker, was Vin

ted despite the alarms still blaring through the bu

o my face. "Thank God it's you. I got completely turned around l

el?" He raised an eyebr

st. "These are new. Six inches and Italian leather. When the alarm

my face. "So, you just happened to be near our most secure

"If you'd prefer, we can discuss

full of hesitation, perhaps. Then he ste

he said smoothly. "I'm sure

made it clear he didn't believ

or. When the doors opened, Vincent held

stepped past him. "Wolfhart Dynamics has many

a hint of steel show in my s

ly. "Because I'd hate to see someone as...

air between us, thinly

y voice steady despite the adrenal

atched me walk away, his gaze bur

les I'd managed to download before being interrupted. Most were heavily encr

out resistance-a simple text d

on it. Along wit

All quietly removed from the c

single line that ma

ns insulated from

rt. The archit

headboard. The image of Maya lying pale in

I whispered into the dark

aya's face I saw, but Vincent's knowing eyes. And

ed a line

new they were al