ad seen it twice outside her apartment building in the past month, a

she

red suit immaculate despite the late hour. He stopped a respect

her name with an

ce was flat. She was t

g," he said quietly. "

. She curled her fingers into loose fists and

lope. "A month ago, someone took a coffee cup from

didn't

" He slid out a single

it remained clear. "Whi

entually taking the cup from an assistant's hand. She had needed an answer, and s

e I was all al

ast month, you've been running yourself ragged for that ma

ened. She turned her

Burrell continued. "She has ne

need to deal with Julie

odded and stepped aside. "I'll ha

nto the Bentley, and Burrell

the sofa, the photos on the wall-was a monument to a lie. She felt no sentimentality. She pulled out two large suitcase

skey and a perfume that wasn't hers-Kiersten's. He saw the suitcases an

in the middle of the night?" His voice

ed the last sweater into her

nd grabbed her w

at him. The expression in her eyes was so

her neck. The delicate diamond chain. His engagement gift. She t

voice sharpened. "

ed up he

ng her shoulder. "You think you can just leave? You can't survive in N

wer. She opene

e said, his voice dropping low. "An

creen. A call connecte

Julien! Thank God! It's a disaster! Our core server-all the core algorithms and data,

d backups-it's all on a countdown to deletion! We can

ace. He whipped his head around t

and slipped the pho

es, blocking her path. "Do you have any idea what

her suitcases. Then at his f

w tightened. "You're not l

h her arm. She was faster. She pulled the door op

and reaching for the doorframe.

im dead in the eye,

d with a dull, solid crack. He reeled backward w

y walking down the hall, the wheels of

he city when she stepped outside. She pulle

I'm re