coffee table, a black sliver of plasti

st Jack Ha

closed but waiting. If the file was corrupted, it could destroy her syste

eady stepped to

an, created a shadow partiti

er. No p

TFALL – ASS

k's name, some with Claire's. Most were dry, technic

y. Escalating influence on

Emma

here were time logs. Elevator entries

'd made since

er from the moment she step

nded too precise. Every turn of a head felt delayed. When Emma reached her floor,

r desk. Jack's of

out the glass wall at the skylin

peak with yo

his face unreada

Claire. Legal co

losing the door behind

nd I know you're trying to outmane

ed. "You've been s

o protect myself,"

ered. "Then you unders

hen said, "What is Pro

idden switch. A panel opened from th

ONFIDE

it in fr

signed to dismantle Hayes Enterprises

e Cl

"I trusted

re were names. Employees. Numbers

Jack said. "A l

racking e

took it over. Now she uses it

ed. "Then why haven

ns fifty-one percent of the voting boa

shoulders heavy. "But

ssed. The

, I'm going to burn Westfall to the ground.

still. Too exposed. As dawn broke over the skyline, her instincts buzzed with the memory of Claire's voice on the audio file. There had been m

there w

evasion. But instead, he gave her everything. Or did he? Trusting him meant giving him the

. Emma Carter – Level 2. Claire Wrenford – Level 10. Damian Callen – Level 4. The numerical rankings weren't just abou

LEVEL 5 – TO

med the b

ing watche

gy she hadn't felt before. The elevators moved faster, th

cutive session, Jack's calendar s

n't been

allen

nd slipped her a flash drive wi

ptop in silence. It was a grainy se

e. Immaculate. Powerful. Radiating

cent misuse of discretionary authority. Including the unauth

has performed above expectation

d proprietar

cess," Jack said.

Claire purred. "You're making decis

dropped

limit Jack Hayes' power p

back in his chair, eyes locked o

said. "Just

tood f

re wasn't just manipulating from the s

ed documents at her desk,

r sh

she found a slip of paper

e B. Midnig

ricted records vault. Off-li

badge now carried

lding was a skeleton

oved through the corridors. The door to Suite

rveillance monitors. And on the cen

– DECLA

it with tre

found was

former partner in business

ise through the company had been aided by that connection, burie

s Enterprises. But Jack had in

ct Westfall to her manipulation of th

oo

s. Every page.

he hea

rea

he

t hammering. The

rs now blinked

BREACH D

a r

started yet, b

and ducked into the shadows. Her

: "What di

idn't

he knew why s

ever supposed to