d the doo

raised to kick it, stumbled forward. He flailed, catching hims

ening his designer shirt. He looked up, ready to unlea

he had been screaming at. Her eyes were chips of ice, and they held

impact sent him stumbling back another step. He watched, dumbfounded, as she walked down the hallway,

led at the closed door, his confusion quickly tu

as his on

ned the makeup drawer. A collection of drugstore brands, mostly unused. The powder fr

minder of the body's physical limitations. She clenched her fist, held it for three seconds until the muscles stead

pale, forgettable face in the mirror transformed. The color amplified the coldness in her

"I hope she's not causing you too much trouble, Dougie. Honestly, you can't expec

ht, feminine la

rce agreement from the vanity. Her red-painted nails d

pushed open th

paused at the top of the grand, curving staircase. Doug was standing there, his ba

the transformation. The woman in the red dress, with the

letely. Her eyes swep

vapid friends were arranged on the white leather sofa, po

olished wood of the banister

orgotten and unworn. Now, the sharp click of the stiletto

ownstairs sto

ead sna

lief. "Well, look what the cat dragged in," she said, her voice drippin

son fabric of her dress a slash of color against the sterile beige of th

a clatter. Her face was pale with fury. "You look like a harlot. Go back upstairs

d lips. She remembered all the mornings Nina had woken up at dawn to cook breakfast for this woman, only to have the food pu

"She's probably just upset. After all, Doug is about to close the deal wit

ost powerful private equity firms in New York, run by a man known for his cold-b

arted to hurry down after her. "Puckett Innovations is going to the moon

ose foundation was built entirely on the code she had just seen

orce papers tightened, t

lliant light from the massive crystal chandelier overhead illuminated her, puttin

o the sofa cushions. She caught herself, and her expressio

ul to my mother!" Doug commanded, finally catch

dness. Now, there was nothing. It was like looking at a stranger. A stranger who lo

ised h

fingers. She shook it slightly. The rustle of the p

as silent, but i