curb in front of an old, red-bric

soaked instantly through her thin shoes. She grabbed her battered

gritted her teeth and twisted it violently back and fort

e heavy, sour smell of milde

uitcase, rolled up the sleeves of her sweater, and forced

nk and started scrubbing the grime

se. She reached past her clothes and pulled out

it gently o

Inside lay a set of professional, high-end jewe

of elaborate jewelry designs. She had drawn them three years ago, right before s

udly against the wo

as Z

. "Did the wire

ring on panic. "My independent brand is in deep trouble. The main piece for ou

htened immediately. The

e fracture?" she asked, her tone shift

ent door, and walked fast. Zane's under

l door of the studio. The air

rightly lit workbench. They were stari

is face when he saw her. He grabbed

said, pointing at

and squeezed it into her right eye

ly four seconds t

pulling the loupe away. "The prongs are puttin

d scoffed. He looked Corinna up and down, takin

street know about high-end ten

ached across the table and pi

brass from the discard pile

ew through the air. She carved tiny, intricate grooves into the brass,

and tossed the brass piece onto the table. It wa

looked at Corinna, stuttering. "Where... where did you learn

grabbed a pencil and rapidly redrew t

yes narrowed in sudden realiz

s lost their anonymous lead designe

second. She did not look up. She pushed th

lines exactly,

hin an hour. Zane handed C

ne said seriously. "

rty window at the brick wall of

wn brand," she said.

e you whatever bench space and tools you need. You should enter

mach flutter. The ambition she had buried for thr

e opened the browser and navigated t

l name into the r

button, a financial news banner popped up

TLE SPONSORSHIP FOR INTERNATIONAL JEWELRY CO

over her shoulder. He h

Zane asked quietly. "You do

on the screen. A cold, hard smile

on the mouse pad. The click

tion Su

ne. Her eyes were blazin

said. "I am going to make sure he