brated on the granite counter. A text from Julian Ashford. Heard the news. Tell me this is some kind of joke. We need to

expression hardened as he read the messag

er was there, a new

ssed in a three-piece suit that looked

ercer said, sliding the paper toward he

of the watch repair was astronomical.

y Steele) is strictly prohibited from any privat

ad snapped u

china clinked sharply against t

e's a friend. He has n

is voice dropping an octave. "And I k

left t

ght a ticket to Zurich because my father needed a sp

pect me to believe you didn't run off with

ng at her throat. "I was trying to save my dad! Yo

ingsley pointed at the pap

uilt an entire narrative of her betrayal, and Julian Ashford was

d her signature across the line.

asked, her vo

He looked satisfied, almo

ft for the city wi

idy's phone, still on t

all: Julia

ed over the green button. Julian was kind

n't save her fat

ed the re

usting a vase, watching her re

the text mes

reholder files. If she was going to be a prisoner, she wou

mpanies buying up stock in a rival tech firm. The transaction logs were protected by a simple cipher she only rec

tile takeover. A massive on

aked, he w

at could kill him. But strangely, she didn't want