BOUND BY HIS TERMS

Hart'

h drive that weighe

voice calm, measured, like a man used to detonating bom

in its circuits were answers. Or more questions. Or

" I asked

"Because Jaxon Vale built his empire

away before I could

conds later. "Wha

said. "And may

for an hour before inserting it into my lapto

ideo

om. Seven

t Phoenix. His passion vibrated through the screen. Next to him sat a younger Jaxon Val

ainable fashion tech that could change how the wor

Diana cut

nscalable. S

d members looked at Jaxon. He said nothing. He fo

ded quietly.

een wen

p and sat frozen

for me. For the dream we

let

vening, I co

o you think

e truth, this is not just betrayal.

confir

we do not let Ja

y n

e will try to bury whatever we find. And if he is

lash drive hidden in the lining of my coat. Jaxon was not

e," Colin said. "B

know I am

ys show up when he

ost s

are here about Project Phoenix, be ca

u k

an most. But le

. "Then

iles Vale Industries never digitized. But they keep everything. Jaxon o

inets, boxes labeled in faded ink. I mov

I s

X, 201

art s

ed the

andwriting. Meeting summaries. Prototypes. A

But his silence is a cage

gned with my fa

my hands, eyes stinging. He had kn

t a warnin

office, he was seated, reading th

ke you have

ve,"

desk. His eyes flicked to

id you g

ves. The ones yo

s face changed. Not anger. Not fear

pered. "You knew w

Walked to

ct was a fantasy. She controlled the b

him. And to me. An

g to protect

e protec

ist this. I made mistakes. Bu

edit the

ether. "What are y

se. Highlighted. Dat

er I signed. Your company

d at the

I did

e was lo

phone. "Colin.

om like a queen surveying her court. Dressed in gra

d smoothly. "Lo

d not

the screen. "Car

. Read. Th

protecti

after the sign

nd

contract

iness," sh

manipulate her. You forged an agreement. Yo

w. "To keep this empire from slipping into fantasy

an. And you use

too weak to do what was nec

ed away. "

t who made yo

t o

ls clicking l

tood in

ly, he tur

said. "You will have full con

what? You

. "If that is

you wan

t my

nce to earn b

op hiding. From your pa

enough that I could fee

ped believing

prov

us shifted. Not softened. But crac

I sat in my

I cried. I

received

ivered.

A sing

lose everything. Your compa

t about Jaxon Va

ymbol I had nev

. Burned

a

ct Fir