with a sharp,

didn

d stayed standing, her hands resting flat against th

e that and walk away," she said.

le. Arms behind his back. Jaw still. The kind of st

ormal behavior when they believe t

an answer,"

precis

once-just once-on t

amount of questioning could disturb

she said. "What ex

was stalling-but like he

inter unlocked three times this week-

n't prove

as Elias Tran. He printed ten pages, s

"You're track

ure is porous. I'm reinforci

llowed to acc

ive override by Elias wh

omach

ve him clearance. But th

rward, just one. Hi

pattern. He arrives thirty minutes earlier than his scheduled shift

nd

entered with a guest p

t's

"I'm not accusing anyone. I'm logging irr

dn't r

coul

he wasn't bluffing. And that

sing. He wasn'

docum

finally, voice flat. "Are you

es

to s

dn't he

se by the window for seven seconds when you're lying. You reply to personal

jaw ti

been stu

"I've been studying threats. You ju

say it lik

t like a

linical

only thing keeping her from pacing was her re

you've dug up," she said.

f someone who didn't need to prepare for questions-be

ersonal dat

nauthoriz

n he said it,

iver disease. You stopped swimming after that summer. Th

blinke

n't flinch. But inside, something

mention

d it. But because

nce. "You got t

building maintenance notes, and a social post from a cl

aw te

nued, st

r emergency contact. You own four safes: one in your penthouse, two at the downtown va

inked

One's empty. The em

at. He didn't lean forward

t all the mo

ine stiffened like a shiel

ou know a

ed like it

at others miss. And you," he a

n't ans

it wasn'

forward-not close, ju

you," he said. "I memorize them because they a

eople li

n't re

w, was worse

now. Controlled. "You t

ou're bein

wh

no a

indow, her reflection faint against the skyl

oing to tell me u

's co

until

you st

nding," she repeated. "Like I'm a

ike you're a wall the

aid n

me, it didn't feel l

e something

illance

was the

arpness in her heels. The glass echoed faintly behi

a threat to mys

ot in defense-but in calculation. She was

enly, "you have a fal

rom what?"

From being underestima

"You think I haven't been underestimate

" he

stopp

because it was honest. Not co

loser now, no

lass.' You walk behind me like I'm a route to b

le," Reid said calmly. "I thi

a bl

g inside her

e. It stayed low, quiet

ur investors are cautious, and your assistant is loyal but reckless. You built your

ing in my office, tellin

telling you how some

pped, hard

m. Her jaw worked

e, her voice was

t o

didn'

id ge

. Not even a s

codes?" she said, voice shaking now, but only from anger.

k a slow

t," he asked, "bec

"I want you out because yo

lan

on Rei

flinch. Di

tep back, toward the door.

he said

You're bait. Tha

wait for h

l