old morning air hitting her face as she nav

of an exclusive, underground speake

unt, was already sitting in a dark leat

gner bag onto the seat, and collapse

er and immediately ordered

's forehead, her brow furrowing as she as

g deep in her bones. She told Amiya she had s

ather briefcase and pulled out a confidential do

the table, leaning in close and wh

quarter of overseas royalty payments had succes

igure number printed in black ink. A

ead back, swallowing the liquor in one long gulp

he hard edges of the room began to blu

k-to-back. The crushing weight on her chest fin

her phone. The bright screen hurt he

re she found the contact sav

unged across the table to grab the phon

massive mahogany table in the Finley Group's top-f

the wood. The screen li

er his emotions to the room, he picked up the device and pressed

piece. Evelyn's drunk, breathy laugh drifted to him, mocking

ne, she loudly insulted his performance in be

y, that he lacked the basic physi

a breath, their eyes dropping to their notepads, terrified to e

s in his jaw bulging as he ground his teeth together

his ear to hang up, but Evel

lammed the device down onto the table so hard the

able. She buried her face in her arms and laughed h