The Kingmaker: A Business Contract Marriage.

ss. My eyes burn. It's 1:15 AM and I should be home with Koda, but instead I'm

third cup of water sits half-empty in my hand. No alcohol

over. Her shoulders slump. At twenty-six, she's brillia

nd 'naive.' In front of everyone." Her voice catches. "Three mo

a moment. Zari reminds me too much of myself at her

hing her face. "Men like Camden Burke don't respond well t

w. "So this is about m

has spent twenty years cultivating an image as the strategic genius behind Gove

a careful distance. Her perfume carries notes of

istake. I thought excellence alone would open doors. That if

n't matter,"

've never managed to break. "I lost three major clients my first year because I didn't understand th

at'

Which is why we're going to repackage your strategy – which is

e shocked her. "Wesley? He didn't

ley is mediocre but male, conventionally attractive, and

s not

d backroom deals. "No, but it's effective. And once the strategy is i

ool against my fingertips. "This is the Reeves campaign's interna

pidly. "How di

if traced back to its source. "The point is, they need your strategy more than you need t

face as understanding dawns. "You p

ifteen years in this business, men like Cam

ly defined against the light from inside. Even at this hour, her postur

professionally neutral. "Dr. Sengupta

unchanged. Fifteen years of practice ma

looking humble but confident. When Burke asks questions Wesley can't answer, you'll step in – not ag

ou built all this?" She gestures to the towering

uilt this by understanding that perception shapes reality. Sometimes you

e door clicks shut behind her, and sudden

ilent on the concrete. "You shouldn't b

f," I admit. "Before eve

ted," Vivienne counters softly.

ns. "What did Dr

ed." Vivienne's voice drops. "He wants

complete gen

es

. Koda's father. The past I'v

en illuminates with a tex

top, we should talk about your son's treatmen

nne, my hand suddenly unsteady.

looks genuinely ala

tching?" My voice sounds

ines it like it might explode

us – thousands of lights, millions of secrets. Som

is running