AB

olds, my of

through the quiet hum of the office,

lance up, finding his pie

here, stern, commanding

ed to get a

Around me, curious eyes follow my every move. Everyone knows

een happening

heavy door clicks shut behind

e a king surveying his kingdom. His sleeves are rolled up, and the fa

I ask, keeping my ton

yes. "I need you to go down to the archives and pull a

rrows. "The

clipped, leaving no

ng my notepad tighter. "I'm just a

hrough the room. He walks around his desk with measured steps until he's standing directly

the surface. "When I give you an assignment, I expect it done. I am the boss.

, like it's a challenge, a reminder, a

dding against my ribs in

I mumble, avo

ck. "I'll expect the file on

se racing. Behind me, I can feel his ey

ily silent, it feels like stepping into another world. I rub my arms against the c

reath, yanking open a drawer labeled "Row

gh the files, someth

res back at me from the corner of a memo

the h

rds are vague but damning: "Pending resolution o

teral

linked to Victor Montero. A dispute. Collateral da

something to do with my father

s d

ough the rest of the file. The connections are thin, but they'r

e footsteps until the

s Rey

blade. I jump, clutching the memo to my chest as I turn to face

o be reading that," he

ome here," I snap,

ser, "but I didn't tell you t

presence towers over me. "Why

es narrowing ever so slightl

t back, my voice rising. "Y

hing," he cuts in, his

on between us crackling like static electricity. His gaze f

e says, his tone leavi

gainst his. The contact sends a jolt through me, bu

desk," Jake says, his voice so

ing," I say, my words

le under his arm and turns away, leaving me s

confusion and anger. I'm so lost in thought that I

across it in neat, un

ing attention. With trembling hands, I tear

ng, or you'l

My heart pounds in my chest as I scan the roo

is? And how

know that I am

w and

parents

ination bubbling to the surface. Whoever lef

, they've just given me