i P

my desktop. Sender: Executiv

licked it open. There was a singl

rts Design Summit. Duran

one number and initials t

e seat, text th

Milan Summit was the golden gate of our industry. The

review. The seat was rightfully mine, but Kurt was holding my achieve

st the knife. He knew my amb

pulled out my phone, punched in t

es

back in less th

passport copy to the private ga

age, a company-wide notificatio

it has been officially awarded to Cori Pi

ent dead silent before erup

hasn't even cle

years! I bet she's screwing Ax

e sloshing over her keyboard. Her face was white with

nce forever tainted my promotion. My peers guessed half the truth, that I had slept with the boss

es, packed my bag, and walked

otification popped up from a burner

two crystal flutes of champagne a

very special milestone w

ened with a silver, hockey-stick cufflink. The exact limited-edition pai

was no grief this time, o

s car idling behind that downtown alley at 2:00 AM

one person: Arthur Vance, Dallas's ruthlessly traditional u

eenshot with a sim

owntown last night. Hope everyth

lay stupid games,

limbing the narrow stairs to the third floor, I

e, a hand caught the edge of t

i, w

shed that practiced, boyish smile, trying to push his way inside

ng his path. "I'm not letting you i

. I know you're mad I didn't drive

casm. "You left me stranded last night when I nee

nsive annoyance he always used wh

spot on the pro roster. I have practices, networking... I'm extremely busy! Not everyone has it a

owed. "Color

spat, his frustration turning into vicious rage. "Who do you think you are? You're an illegiti

te. The bleeding wound my mother suf

my voice shaking with ice. "But at least I earn my own keep. I d

narled. He raised his right hand, stepping forward with his fis

a piercing, high-priority ring

it the speaker button in one smoot

g to save you?" Brandyn spat, comple

ttm

hallway, cutting through Brandyn's threat like a s

widening in paralyzed terror as he recognized

looding my chest as I stared dead into Brandyn's ey

most brilliant designer this franchise has ever seen. She's going to Milan. You are going to rot in the minor league penalty box for the rest of your patheti

ng panic. He opened his mouth, desperately trying to stammer out an apology, but only a pathetic, choked squeak escape

airwell, slamming his shoulder into the brick wall and tripping over his own

d me as his property; he had validated my professiona

he receiver, a strange, warm f

rp," Kurt replied, his voice softeni