edia building, a plastic cup of iced Americano clutched tightly in her hand. She wor

t second. A splash of dark coffee sloshed over the rim of the c

sympathetic grimace. "Wipe that fast," Jessica whispered. "Arthur i

breath. She checked her reflection in the elevator doors, trying to

ce department, the door of the main conference room swung open. Arthur Wallace, th

to the conference room and took the seat in the fa

berg's exclusive coverage last night sent Ellison Holdings' stock through the roof," he bar

jerked. The tip of her pen gouged a harsh, bl

veral people jump. "I want an exclusive, in-depth in

rvous, skeptical glances. Everyone in the industry knew Gus

treet Journal sent a team to ambush him last month and his security detail literall

ned the room, searching for a victim, befo

," Arthur

ipped a beat. She

ruthlessly, exposing her in front of the entire team. " you need a massive win to prove

red, her voice tight with panic. "He is notoriously unreachab

anila folder across the table. It landed

the table. "You're on thin ice, Thornton. Your leadership is being questioned by the board. Go down there, play the desperate card, do

nd scrubbed clean of any association with the Ellison empire. Their two-year marriage had been shielded by iron-c

m for negotiation. "You get me an hour with Gustav Ellison, or

r blurted out, genuine ter

pity, silently thanking God they hadn

istance. Then, his expression shifted into

"I will double your year-end bonus. I'll promote you to Executive Ed

percent raise, Har

igh rent for her Brooklyn apartment. The urge to stand up, throw her badge at Arthur's face, and quit was

ed from tight fists. She bit down hard on he

r office like a zombie, clutching the manila fo

sk. "Don't stress too much," Jessica whispered kindly. "Just call his PR dep

he mint and popped it into her mouth. The sharp, col

-resolution, official portrait of Gustav. He was wear

at and insulted just hours ago, Harp

antly. If she contacted him directly, she would be handing him her

er desk. She dug past old notebooks and pens until s

o title. No company logo. Just a string

ct line Gustav had given

rd. It felt heavy, like a one