st, another schedule, another text from Xan

ng the KnightCorp board

sage, still half-as

No "how did you s

ant being treated like an employ

, I g

just right and made me feel powerful, even if I was still faking it. I tied my hair i

I was pr

weirdly light and he

his Rolex. When he looked up and saw me, something shifted

he actually lo

e," he said

y two m

nutes i

s. "Do you live

ollar empire, Rein

little salute. "Yes

t-almost

leek black car waiting out front. The driver nodded respec

hed Xander out of t

perfect.

line sharp enough to cut diamonds.

ion in his shoulders. Like he wasn't just pre

asked, surpris

ed at me

eem...

lways

ead. "Must be

ned his head and looked ou

y t

-

ures. Men in expensive watches. Women in pearls and whispers. Everyone ha

me to the board

my wife

i

little jolt. Like my brain cou

ike, "It's such a pleasure," and "I've heard so much about you

and heels that could kill a man. She leaned in toward Xander a l

rred, "you never told me

around my waist so

he said smoothly. "But

to me, her smile sharp. "

tly. "So are

oked on h

ped my mimosa lik

ithout any more bloodshed, but the second w

that bac

ha

. About he

d. "She w

st powerful sharehol

"Then maybe she can a

like I'd grown

en-he

a sm

olite c

actual

y unexpected. And it made my chest

asked, my

still smiling. "You

t you hat

dn't

at me for a s

the air betwe

s i

...

-

city lights stretched endlessly below me. I was still trying to process e

minute later, two g

his," he said, handing

nking in surpr

for a while, sippi

something I ha

ever reg

at me. "R

pressure. The mo

hoice. Pressure is part of the deal. And ice?"

. "That sou

traight ahe

nt, I saw

is empir

ruthless suits, there was

k what. I j

anything els

ce felt diffe

eren't pr

omple