nded the perfect proposal from her team, a nagging instinct told her Shane's arrogance wasn't just s

throat. The sound w

ncil had a closed-door session this morning.

ipped the edge of

nical audit two wee

is voice dropping to a w

hun

ocket. She grabbed her coat and

p in the red zone outside City Hall. She threw t

heels echoed sharply against the stone. She bypassed the s

nd saw Arthur. He was holding a leather bri

nt of him, blocking

clutched his brief

he whispered, looking up

d his personal space, forcing h

to me," Al

terrified. He grabbed her elbow and pulled her in

ds were shaking. He pulled out a p

l firm stepped in las

a two-page bid summary. She scann

, her voice rising. "This doesn't even cove

olding his hands up in surrender. "No municipal bo

aper so hard it cr

predatory pricing to create a monopo

t midnight. Whoever this firm is, they have enough power to bypass

nths of late nights, six months of fighting for b

crumpled paper

n't roll over

nd walked ou

hit her face, bright and blinding. The steel and glass skyscra

Her career-defining pr

k a deep breath, letting the smell of ex

phone out. Sh

omeone just hijacked my city project. I need the name of the ac

her car. Her blood pumped fast, hot and aggr