er; it was a monolith of glass and steel that seemed to

security guards looked like Secret Service age

ed, her eyes flicking over S

I'm here to see

rfectly sculpted eyebrow. "D

him. He told

standing nearby snorted softly.

id withou

her

s older, severe, wearing glasses on a chain.

didn't wait for an apology. She walked to the elev

ped into a world of hushed silence. The carpet was thick enough to sleep on.

standing at the head of a table, leaning over a terrified-looking associate,

raightened up, dismissed the associate

rking his head toward

hold the d

elling of leather and that same expensive tobacco

, pointing to a cha

hands in her lap to hide

ning back in his chair. He picked up a pen, twirling it

," Scarlett said

d at her, really looked at her, for a long

to represent

rate litigator in the

t Sterling & Partners does not handle Pon

lett insisted. "He was fr

ame. "Vance is... complicated. Our familie

elt a chill. "You mean

ently engaged in delicate negotiations. Representing his ac

ered. "I have no mo

opped ten degrees. Harrison sl

ty ward. You are a liability. And I don't invest in liabilities."

felt like lead. She had hu

fting her chin. "I'l

urning his chair to look out

ead high until the elevator doors c

rned her umbrella inside out instantly. She threw it in a tras

Mil

was standing under the awning of the b

said, holding it out. "He said it's bad for the firm's i

lla. It was an act of charit

y," she said. But the cold was

lished wood. Engraved in the sil

lla, her only friend who

t? Where

w," Scarlett said.

nce is going to the Hamptons this weekend. The Ro

S

begged her, Scarlett. I told her you needed the shift. You'll have to

she knew, with a sudden, crystal clarity, that Harrison would likely b

aid into the phone. "I'