Elise

e for sinners-obsidian floors, minimalist gold trim, and a chandelier shaped like a crown of th

n at exactl

Miss Carter, Mr. Blackwell is expecting you

or. Of

ng at me. I had walked into this same building five years ago to p

e, I wasn't

ere to

rian Bl

like she own

olden daughter of the Carter family." No, this Elise Carter

lacks, her hair swept into a loose knot that framed he

ed like

ck as Naomi

" I said. "Ri

y confidence. "I'm always punctual wh

from me, and she sat-crossing

hat you've

Elise

r and slid the doc

other's climate models. After she passed, the data was folded in

fting as he scanned each page. Contracts. Res

timing," h

out convenience. This is about control. The Carters

ctly do you w

get exclusive development rights. I get fifty-

ually

e my throne,

ready for this innovation. Because I'm n

t me for a

. "You want to play in my sandbox, Elise? Fin

rian Bl

me of someone

want a seat at the tab

were real. Her data could push my renewable

I didn't

ou killed i

ower got you

Monday," I

nodded like she alre

aomi set up

know the layout. After all, I used t

lin

and turned

robably not. But

f uncertainty-and us

made her

ind of woman

iffany

ed into the phone, nearl

She signed a development contract with Blackw

his wasn't the plan. She's supp

playing a dee

er gam

Elise play

Elise dec

n across from me-Li

ne," I hissed. "That

before," he stammered. "I

di

the ashes we

was coming f

Elise

oking the city. Naomi had handed me a keycard, a co

d for

l goal wasn't just the patent. It was access-to Blackwell's

side this empir

o my mothe

to mine. Or how our families were once entan

embered e

d

ide the l

n't come