straight to the small bar. There it is, the familiar cut-crystal carafe, filled with fresh water and sli

isible twist of my wrist, I uncork it and let three precise drops fall into the water. They disappear instantly, leaving no trace, no

, steadying breath, push open the door to the CE

, mahogany desk. He's wearing a sky-blue suit that probably cost more than most people's cars, and

flight in wasn't too hectic," he say

on; I simply sit down in the rich, brown leather chair opposite his desk, crossing my l

your new sustainable linen, but the exclusivity clause you're proposing is unac

trying to strike with the real Beatrice, and I know exactly

iss Diaz. We have other partners to con

is the level of flexibility you offer? I was led to believe you were a more visionary businessman." I can see i

ce tightening. "Flooding a single market with seventy percen

scoff, waving a hand as if the entire negotiation is beneath me.

his mouth to retort, there's a soft knock. Perfect timing. An old staff member enters, carefully placing t

of a diversified partnership far outweigh the cons of putting all you

ack to him, my expression one of sheer contempt. "Volatile? Or perhaps just disce

ring his frustration is so high that the first thing he'll crave is a lon

the words strained. "Sit down.

settle back into the leather chair, crossing m

erhaps if your firm was willing to cover the additional shipping costs, w

od, no wonder your market share is shrinking. You're nickel-and-diming the v

p red. "Miss Diaz, you

ust unable to handle a woman who doesn't bow to your terms? Maybe yo

fe. His hand is not quite steady. He pours water into both glasses, shoving one across the

l glass, making no move to drink. My heart

s own glass and gulps ha

being too agitated to drink. "Now, where were we

escaping him. "This isn't about thinking

can see the first signs of disorientation clouding his eyes. He shifts in

, my voice laced with a feigned,

ng rapidly as if trying to clear

feeling

rred. He reaches for the water glass again and drains it,

o

drops, losing all pretense of Beatrice

g as he tries to focus his n

say, "You

correct him, my gaze locking with

to maintain some semblance of control. But it's a losing battle. With each second, th

roat. He's too far gone to even notice the shift in my voice now. It's my t

groans, pressing the heels of his hands hard against his te

e inches from his. "Did

e's only terror there now. I am not intimidated. I smile, a cold, cruel cur

l a profound, disorienting vertigo, as if the floor is tilting beneath him. A cold sweat brea

hair tumble down. I then take a silk handkerchief from my pocket and wipe away t

rectly in his

chemical and soul-deep. His face, which was already pale, becomes

Dap

ss me much,

mmers, his mind fracturing under t

s expensive silk tie and collar, yanking him forward until I can fe

ld back for five long years. "You locked the door and you left me to scream and bu

ic sound, his body sh

ress?" I shove him back, and he collapses into his chair, a broken, trembling mess. "This is just the beginning.