ks settled into

r duties with fl

the incident at the Baccarat

awar

r, was a dif

gnited, now smoldere

equent, unannounced

to see Ethan, but he

ion was subtle at first,

coffee near Ava's workspace, ruining do

exclaim, her apology dripp

ure brand of tea from a cafe miles away, picking up dry cleaning, re-arran

kground (which Izzy knew nothing about, bu

y, dear. You shoul

t all with st

plained. She

rands, absorbed the insults with a quiet dig

d Ethan "coincidentally" witnesse

bbing at a coffee stain, Ava returni

see Izzy's cruel

efficiency and loathed d

a's desk, a smug look on her face,

in Izzy's voice whe

deepened durin

on her, a flicker of something – ir

e sure. But it

a quiet hum beneath the surf

working. Slow

e the "e

e (while he was in a meeting), claimed to have "discovered" something on hi

es of

en Ethan's personal account and

vous, shared inside jokes, and hi

urse, entirely f

ich she'd studied from his legitimate emails), planting them on his rarely-used device v

e a secret affair Ethan

it for Ethan's

in office area, waving

now!" she screamed, her voice echo

s stared

is conference room,

is the meani

papers at him. "Who is she, Ethan?

o Ava, who was standing frozen by her

towards Ava. "This mousy little sn

s if struck. "Ms. Sterl

xecutives, murmured, their eyes wide with

palpable. "Did you hear?"

a's arm, her na

re trying to st

ne flicker of pain mix

terling, you'r

intense. Ava could feel t

her voice choked wit

I don't know what s

towards the cen

Ethan! Fired now! T

in the air, ug

errified, tears stre

a hand as if to stri

y's arm, his g

voice was dangerously low,

her away

the printouts with a speed that belied hi

he watching faces, hi

sticated spear-phishing attack we've been tracking for weeks.

iant lie. Plausible e

e company's image, o

glance at Ava, who was now sob

asingly, prot

unned into silence by his authorit

ng?" she repe

handling it. Now, I suggest you go home

his message was clear. The

staff. "Back to work,

allowed herself to be steered towards the elevators by

o, then turned, his

y offic

e was un

s, took a shaky b

ld thrill, shot through her.