burns Jeannette's palms,

ve eighty-five-inch television mounted on the wall. The screen is split in two. On the left, the

ike a statue, the dark circles under her eyes deepening into bruised shadows. Eleanor wa

rth night,

sound of a key turning in the lock crackles through the

wn on the record button on her laptop. Eleanor drops

runken sound. His arm is wrapped tightly around Zara's waist. Zara giggles, kicking the door shut wi

oring, uptight bitch?" Zara whines, her

on as the final payout from the Beaumont family trust clears into

pillow and hurls it violently at the television screen. "That parasi

letely devoid of emotion as she watches the man she was supposed to marry drag another woman onto

nservative clothing. They laugh about how they hooked up in Dev

room. The pinhole lens captures every disg

ter, the rec

sive video file. She uploads it to three separate, secure cloud servers based in

rive inside, and turns to Eleanor. A slow, c

over," Jeanne

you going to do with it? Th

nvelope resting there. It's the invitation to the Langley family's annual charity g

ays, her voice smooth as glass. "In front of

h. She immediately grabs her phone. "I

haute couture into the apartment. Jeannette walks past

a vintage, deep-V halter gown made of heavy red velvet.

ress clings to her curves like a second skin. The severe, sharp makeup the artist app

piercing whistle. "Boston

velvet gloves. She slips her phone-loaded with

leave, her phone buzz

ope is treating you well. Don't for

wave of pure disgust rolls through

Eleanor arranged. The rain is falling in a steady, cold drizzle over Boston. Jeannette leans

a Hotel. Jeannette pushes the door open herself. Her stiletto hee

s alone toward the private elevator leading to the main

al vision. A wall of massive men in identical black suits is moving

ace, presses the 'UP' button, and steps ins