BEFORE YOU

on the thirty-first floor, in a boardroo

an easy smile that hadn't reached his eyes since Elena walked in. Theo Webb, Daniel's co-founder. He had been introduced as the

f you," E

are unusually founder-friendly, and the only reason they're on the table is that Daniel threat

s jaw was tight, but he d

anded somewhere dangerous. She pushed it aside. *No. For the deal

she said. "Then let me earn

one the way she had answered Daniel in the pitch: directly, with numbers,

l conflict here we

l. Elena felt the

d be worse. "It ended before either of us built our companies. I haven't seen him since until the day

n," Theo said, his expres

niel said, a little hoarsely. "It's in the

id. "I wanted to

voted yes in the end, and told her later it wa

rward, needing air. The city spread out below her in col

r of a small conference room arou

we'll do the pill organizer together." A pause. A tired, gentle laugh. "I

a fr

t no one was near. It was softer than the one he used with investors. It was the voice from

,* she thought.

moment later, phone in his han

id you hear

something," Elena said carefully

omething more. Then he put the phone in his pocket. "It's not

ected

He gave a small, rueful smile. "I

tle than people. The man in front of her had just spent two hours fighting his own partners for

real one? she wonder

aid at last. "Just don't

said. "I'm t

t evening, as if Marcus Hale

gives notice that it has acquired a position in Reyes Beauty Group through se

position?"

the letter down. "It's a foothol

" Elena rubbed her e

rip. Milan. The partners want a founder on-site." Priya raised an eyebrow. "Daniel's going too. A

she only thought, with a calm that frightened her: "Eight hours on

iliar curiosity: I wonder what he'll

f Cha