ass doors opened. Henderson, her division manager, marched out. Henderson was a

he was

enderson waved her over. "

dge, sir. Security

and pulled her toward the turnstiles. He swiped his

nderson muttered. H

, Mr. He

m says her ID is flagged, sir. 'Executive Hold'. She ca

n from her face. The 50th

le. "Flagged? What

spered, though she knew e

led a number. He spoke in hushed, fran

terling's office just cleared you for a one-day visitor pas

ng hand. He was watching. He was contro

ally entered the elevator. "You're not going to

Dinner? It's nin

ara's desk as they passed it. "Read this. Memorize it. Mr. Sterling personally requested a junior a

endable. That was exact

Miller. Wear somethin

ble that cost more to reserve

e for the clinking of silver against china. Twelve men

ed. Not when she took her seat at the far end of

posal with surgical precision, his voice low and devoid of em

from a rival firm. He smelled of gin and expensive col

Clara's forearm. His

pull her arm away politely.

in

ss hitting the table wa

oom. Everyone looked at

of the mahogany surface. His eyes were

ere something wrong with the service? Or a

, face flushing red. "Just ma

the first time all day, he looked her i

What is your assessment of the r

r the table. She wasn't supposed to sp

urrency hedging is insufficient. If the Euro drops by two points

le

his glass. "Sloppy," he said. "The report is sloppy. Is thi

rvously. Henderson l

. He was humiliating her. He was

curate, sir," she said, her

n commanded. He didn

a excused herself to the restroom. She

essing her forehead against

g away

pun a

space, backing her into the alcove near the restrooms. He was so ta

," Clara whispere

ected. He reached into the

out her

rushed against hers. He reached out and slid the plastic card down the

. It was a slow, deliberate violation of her space,

mured, his voice droppi

to leave befo

hy

looking down. "I was drunk. You were.

rced her to look at him. His eyes were dark, swirli

d, testing the word. "I

e, Mr. Sterling. A

am. Meet me in the car in ten minutes. If you run this time, Clara,

s face a mask of i

t be