tive floor felt heav

n't new, but she'd ironed it twice the night before. Her heels were modest, her hair pinned neatly, and

orner office door, knuc

," said a voi

tur

e, coat off, tie loose, cof

ly," she repl

. Com

plush rug. The office was immaculate-sleek, modern, s

small desk beside h

es, frantic messages, some form of initiation into madness.

ts, and merger documentation," Jack said. "Start with the

nked. "T

That's generous. Sar

as how it

ded. "Un

his desk witho

s bled t

reschedule between two board members in different time zones, corrected a mist

.m., her h

slides w

t a word. He glanced at them briefly, th

the line about

n't think we were a

re n

t explai

r: think fast, stay sharp, anticipate everythin

Langsto

ike she didn't quite

ily," Emm

unch with the Walker Group is being moved up. T

" Emma interrupted, then i

narrowed

it's updated," E

mile. "We'll see

revious proposals, and arranged seating for the boardroom. Jack barely

ws as they entered the

t a presence

prom

Mitc

urned

of the lounge," Emma said be

nlike some people, I don't need to clin

. "This isn't a s

nk he picked you for your

e said nothing. Sarah waite

. Her pulse was a d

enior partners sent a report riddled with discrep

ou have thir

, scanned every page, recalculated the metrics

k her. Just no

ance review. Emma opened the back panel and reached in to fix it. Her sleeve

got the doc

her without warning

he said quickly,

ll box from his d

hesit

a war zone," he added.

e scratch with a tissue. It wasn't

nk y

eady halfway b

k finally emerged

ed," he s

ed me to

cision. You gave

know how to

me directly for the next m

erst

u'll need access to Level 27

on Lev

dn't

ing with sore feet

ened the Claire W. fold

aw this time s

ire's name tied to Hayes Enterprises in

one

Cla

tructure Time

yes@haye

okyo shares secured in my name. I'm not waiting

tared

't just the

as in

ly, pullin

and stared out at the darkened city

and accomplice was thinne