igious law firms, was thick with a tension Ciel could feel in her bones. Colleagues who usual

summons. Elias Finch, the firm's senior partner and her one-ti

ubbing his temples, his usually immaculate silver hair disheveled. Sever

ply. He slid a data report across the desk. "Three of our biggest corporate

n't surprised. The holding companies behind all

Elias said, his voice laced with a wear

ar-looking legal file-the one for Baylie K

ne shifting from weary to demanding. "But you will not let your domestic squabb

he glass walls. She thought of Elias, the man who had once given a lecture on legal ethics tha

breath, the air

rious financial irregularities in that foundation's books. Taking t

We're on Wall Street, Ciel, not in a damn p

s case, you're done. I'll pull you from every active

e looked at the man she once respected and felt a pro

had to m

clear," she

sound of her heels on the marble floor was

lances from her colleagues. She sat down, her

a new, blan

yped two words: R

ard, the words pouring out of her

hone lit up on the desk.

thought

umption that she would eventually c

ntact, scrolled down, and pressed 'Block'. T

ting out two clean, warm pages. She took a pen from her desk an

to the HR department when her desk

e Kane here to see you. Sh

Here. Now. A public spectacle

andle this.

er under her keyboard. She walked toward the elevators, h

levator display desc

to end this, o