ew's

membership fee alone could rival a month's rent in downtown Manhattan. And today, unlike most days, I foun

. 6:40 a.m.-still early enough for peace. I stepped out, locking eye

Mr. Phillips," he said, surprise registering for a moment

coolly. "Felt like s

in bleeding before breakfast. I started with a light jog on the treadmill, thirty m

, unrelenting steel. I set my stance and pulled. One set. Then another. My m

wo more," a voice c

o look. That vo

he final set and held it. My entire body shook. Five

done,

"Chris.

ss partner for two years, bonded first by barbells a

here. You've been ghosting th

this morning. Private gym's

you're back in the

s, falling into an easy rhy

nd fitted black workout wear that clung to her body like second

hris asked, catch

ed. "Just admi

ked kno

vibrated. Mayor Philli

the far corner of the gym. The

orning,

"Andrew. Come to my office before

rd meeting and a full day plann

ect you so

reason. No room

f. Urgency in my father's tone always m

chatting up the same

maybe I did. But I

out. "I've gotta boun

out to introduce you to your g

rl," I muttered.

me admiring, assessing. Women stared

the East Coast. Add my father's reputation as a wealthy, ruthless politicia

omething was stirring beneath the surf

shimmered in the morning light. A line of muscle-bound men in black

ys to one of the guards. "Park it. Ge

h a tablet in hand, already

. board meeting, a

ng," I cut in. "

stood,

d me coffee. "Velvety. No s

mth softened something i

up even faster. Navy Tom Ford, silver cuffl

, glanced at the dining room cl

ready

led out, the convo

My father didn't do anything urgent without reason.

nto the leather

.. I pictured her again

even know

nking feeling

Mayor Phillips never called without an agenda and if he was cu

ut to ruin

: NOT A L