e was quiet. Bronson had left

y shoe box from beneath the sofa. She smil

itted burgundy dress. She applied a light

adquarters of Ortega Technologies. Eloise took the

ite smile stiffening for a fraction of a second when he saw Eloise. He imme

licked toward the closed doors of Bronson's office. "The boss is in a high

was just corporate stress. "That's fine, A

st an employee. He couldn't physically restrain the CEO's wife

ift box squarely in the center of

o write a card. She scanned

e desk and pulled op

all, biometric steel safe bolted to the in

se, Eloise typed in their

. The light turned green. The

a thick manila envelope bearing the logo o

envelope out and slid the thick

t page screamed at her: COMMERCIAL

gen. Her eyes locked onto the signature

tly. She flipped to the second

te: Jon

was the blonde woman fr

rintout fell onto the desk. The date was printed at the top. The

g cramp twisted Eloise's lower abdomen. She grabbed t

while holding her, while watching her cry over negative pre

ck of her throat.

e. Bronson's voice, deep and commanding, dri

rofile, and the contract back into the envelope. She jammed it into

ss doorknob turned. Her hands flew to her lap, her fingers digging so h