e silent, opulent house. She knew the blind spots of the security cameras by hear

oolishly in the open hallway. Instead, she dropped to her knees, adopting the posture of a confused child playing on the floor. With a practiced, lightning-fast motio

sensitive. It pic

tight with greed. "Once the trust's protection clause expires tomorr

ed, her voice smug. "He's tired of

ear, damning audio and video to bury them both in co

ed, pre-established secure inbox she checked periodically. There were over a dozen unread emails from her mother's lawyer in Switzerland, escalating in panic over the last

tion 3. The emergency clause. The only way to immediately seize full, ir

to be

ackground check, no time for a negotiation. She needed a signature on a legal do

a tight knot. She bypassed the main doors, heading for the kitchen. With a deft

redictable patrol routes of the security guards. A minute

, her voice clear and

wer Manhattan. The main hall was a chaotic swirl of people-couples holdin

with ruthless efficiency. Too old. Too young. Too eager. She

room's temperature. A palpable wave of p

it looked like a second skin. His face was all sharp angles and unforgiving lines, his dark hair swept back from a high forehead.

aw tight, his eyes radiati

" he snarled into the phone, his voice a l

darkening further. "Tell Cyrus to go to

w. "Marcus. Find a woman. Any woman. Get me a signature on

e a single, hard t

at, took a deep breath, an

lowed herself to be "jostled" by the c

her off, his long fingers pressing against her shoulder to keep her from

sharp scent of cedar and a fa

his eyes like ch

glasses from her face. She met hi

r voice even and direct. "I nee