nnovest contract open beside a cup of

al time. Standard langua

ed her pen

ignature page. She encrypted the file and sent

lit up i

l. An incoming call fro

her ribs. She answered before

Dr. Alistai

eady, trained from years of cli

utifully," he said, warmth in his tone. "We're lookin

ft Kayla's lu

managed. "Thank

camel coat from the closet, hailing

. She spent them staring out the window, wat

Helen Grimes sat propped against pillows, thinner than she had bee

ace lit up. "I didn't e

gainst Helen's. The familiar scent of her mother's perfume-

n asked immediately.

step f

, arranging her features into the m

tors," she said, the lie smooth as silk. "He sent his

hers, squeezing wit

ng. "Hardworking. You chose well, sweetheart.

r favorite flowers, listened patiently to twice-told stories about her childhood, and always called

r tongue pressing against the soft flesh

rced a

," she said, adjusting Helen's blanket with precis

ighed,

sed. "I'll dance at your w

it down

truth. The shock of a broken engagement, the public humiliation, the stress of

arry this s

. Kayla used the interruption to escape, ste

breathing deliberately unti

ulled out

its corporate logo spinning. She

ver taking vacation, never calling in sick, nev

d the dates

ce presidents didn't require managerial appr

fari and navi

ickup from her apartment. Deliv

CEO or executive assistant only. Place directl

led pickup

ed over the conf

pre

er generated. The physical letter-a

Algo's Head of Human Resources. In the 'CC' field, she added Innovest's general counsel and her personal attorney. The subject line was clinical: K. Grimes -

ocked h

tion in the dark screen, and walked back into