Shadows of Blackwell

hing feel like fiction. The skyline shimmered like a mirage,

shadow in silk, standing beside one

wasn't completely

as their car pulled up to the entrance of

Just calculating how many champagne flutes I can acc

th tugged upward. I

t, no tie. The collar open just enough to hint at somethin

about. Not once. Not si

d cold, and instructed her to dele

med Ask him what they're threatenin

t ready t

car into a sea of camera flashes and velvet ropes. "This room

"I went to business school." H

hey were so different.

-

Every guest looked like they belonged on the cover of Forbes or in a courtroom.

in command. He nodded, shook hands, whispere

g names, alliances, subtle

was clearly trying to impress a magazine editor with

n the group, "what's your tak

ty. You were listen

ictable because it's still being treated like currency instead of co

oup bl

e's new." "And unfi

mov

-

The room was too loud, too gold, too full of people p

e the night was cooler, quieter. "I

tu

Late twenties. Familiar. And smiling l

tive Strategy together at Columbia. You used to sit in the

d. "Benji.

you. You cut your hair." "I

hared

yes narrowing. "I've been hearing things

's developing. Something that could destabilize current c

m. "Why are you

biggest competitor now." "Redhawk," s

smartest in the room, Ivy." She ste

awful close to a fire. And you don't lo

-

but the crowd had shifted. She was half

Mid-thirties. Elegant. Blonde. The w

amian appeared at her si

aid. "Who is that woman?" she

ked. "That'

tunned. "You said yo

said. "That's not the same thing

me." The words hit

en-really looked. "

hts dimmed. A soft chime rang out

e who offers to protect you tonight." He

eady moving to

-

rare art, a signed first edition of The Great Gatsby. Iv

r face slip into the b

head of

dn't mention

, quietly following. Alex turned a

dead. Alex was speaking to someon

nj

," Alex was saying

"Get her to open the system."

at she stands to lose.

l hit t

on stopped. Be

met. Ivy tu

-

heaving, scanning the crowd. Damian was

people, reached h

to go. Now." He took one l

ride was tense, their reflection double

nally spoke. "Your head of security is w

to him. "Di

spected someone was feeding them in

re using me to open something. What system,

es met

me since she'd met h

ng for five years. The one that could change everythin

hy

etly. "It learns. It evolves. It makes decisions."

dded

w they

nly one person in this company has the biomet

ared a

Not me-" "You," he sai