The Architect of His Own Downfall

Jense

o work. I reviewed blueprints. I smiled at Carter' s texts and answered his

ry casual touch, was a lie that scraped against my raw nerves. I was living in

to me like a damp coat. My thoughts were fuzzy

tand each morning and a smoothie by my plate at dinner. "I' ve been talking to a nutritionist. We ne

he smoothies, too exhausted to argue, telling myself it was j

bright with manufactured excitement. "I have a surpris

he Pritzker Prize and cemented my name in the architectural world. It was my masterpiece, a soarin

y gathered at the base of the building. And standing be

?" I asked, m

meras. "We' re announcing a new city initiative for architectural preservation, and I thought, what better pla

rrative, making it part of his brand. He put his arm arou

ving the city' s soul, about the importance of safety code

up from a service panel on

, turning from grey to black. A small, bright oran

ess surged forward, c

few moments, charring a section of the facade and shattering a single glass panel before a sec

his hands up, reassuring the crowd. He directed his secu

e turned back to the repor

s unfortunate incident highlights a critical issue. It underscores the urgent need for updated safety codes,

. He didn' t have to say my name. He had planted the seed. The fire at

s no accident. This was a setup. He had orchestrated this entire event to tarnish

ing. The caller ID read 'Godfather.' Edward Frederick. The formidable media mo

ice trembling sli

low, urgent command, stripped of all pleasantr

ng out the window, a small, sati

an' t," I

dward' s voice was like gravel. "I never trusted him. That fire was arson, Harper.

od ran

l your recent bloodwork. You' ve been systematically drugged, Harper. A low-grade sedative, consistent with

The exhaustion. It all clicked into place

ed. "I have a team two blocks behind you.

ne? Is she on her way?" He paused. "Good. She' s becoming a liability. Lock her away. We' ll say she h

aby, that was the director of a private wellness retreat upstate. After w

road. Ahead, I could see two men in d

to take me away

driver swore, swerving as I yanked it hard to the ri

mbled out. A black SUV screeched to a halt behind us, an

other stood between me and Carter, who was now o

r!" he yelled. "You' re ha

weak and disoriented, I heard Carter' s

changed. She kn

r' s face, contorted with a rage so pure it was terri