conference room on K Street. She had not slept a single minute. Dark purple cresce

fted sheet of paper ac

stody petition,

se, his expression deeply troubled. "Finley, are you sure? If we drop custody now, the court wi

ison into his ear. Yesterday, my son looked at me through a screen and told me he hated me. Every time I reach for h

is your o

ecause I have no independent liquidity. I want fifty percent of his personal liquid assets. I want twenty percent of his voting shares in Be

whistle. "You want to

vestigators," she said, leaning forward. "When I come back for my son, I will not be a desp

publicly, the media and the courts will brand you as a cold,

heir lives," Finley said, picking up her leather bag. "File th

outh on Route 267 into the sprawlin

manicured pines. Before her stood an architectural marvel of curved glass

ntelligence research ins

his massive corporate debts, Finley had been a rising star here. She had been the youngest doctoral candidate under Prof

ll away for a ring,

e soaring atrium. The familiar scent of ozone, pol

ood morning. I'm Finley Wright. I'm

apologetic wince. "I'm sorry, Ms. Wright. Professor Abbott's calendar i

ll his executive office. Tell him... tell him Finley i

desperation behind Finley's composed facade, sh

passed.

s. Wright... Professor Abbott declined to see you. However, hi

a S

st bitter academic rival-the woman who had celebrated th

l be right up