ke

on, then with a wave of pure annoyance. He saw me, truly saw me, and his first reaction

had the audacity to seem confounded. "What are you doing

t a disobedient child who had wa

oice possessing a preternatural stillness. "What are you doin

observing this corporate melodrama unfold. "This is not the time or the p

four most dismissive wor

, darling, she is the one! She has been stirring up trouble all da

ined, protective cast. "Jaden would never lie," he said, not to me, but to the telephone, as if to

rd undercurrent of command. "Blake, just apologize. For

, not because it was the right thing

ps. The last embers of love and hope I h

ng through the cafeteria's stunned silence. "You promised to lead wi

was holding. "Our year is not concluded. But the pact

orm another command or excuse, I reached out and te

blank telephone, then at me, her mouth agape. The other empl

ustom model my father had given me, a universe away from the standard-issue brick the

ang

oice devoid of all

steady voice of David Sha

atly. "An unauthorized individual has been forging compan

h out of the corn

lank wall ahead. "First, call Connor Bishop. Tell him he has ten minutes

once. "Tell your assistant, Lena, to meet me here. And have her bring th

, the weight of my request hanging in the air. Then, my fa

ed th

l eyes of the employees around me, and a single thought formed in my mind