HIS CONTRACTED OBSESSION

upper levels of Laurent Tower. Her reflection stared back at her in the polished s

oday, she would step into t

of those who wou

summons-had come

. 10 a.m. Atte

. Not re

iberately, calculatingly. She would meet his board, his inner circle. Those loyal, t

nded to

executive floor. Dark glass. Mar

aited her, expression

Mademoise

ith abstract art and discreet security came

oors opened int

and steel. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a sweeping v

and women of power-grey hair, sharp suits, eyes honed by d

in dark tailoring. He did not rise as she ente

d, voice carrying across

ers showed thinly veiled interest. One man-bald, lean, with a

aight, gaze cool. She stood at D

to the group

pa

tions. No p

ntlet w

-

was no ordin

ing of legacy operations. His voice was calm, assured, but beneath the surface Cami

t. Dresden Group. Others tied

ion was

oor opened

rst blow c

ooth with practiced disdain. "You come from a legal background, yes? What precisel

slight. The

he faintest smile

nsieur Marceau," she said evenly. "Nor to soothe

usement crossed

ntinued, v

han corporate maneuvering. I bring legal expertise, discretion, and insight in

nst those who wou

he room. Several gazes shift

en, his tone la

ille's presence is no

swept t

ill be valued.

lence. No one chal

r

-

tense. Camille rose beside Damien as the board

nto the corridor,

l pl

gaze. "I d

ile. "No.

ilence, the charged air between t

ed. The city sprawled

whiskey-no question, no inv

al," he sa

d her glass.

ion simmered-part challe

-

on brought

efings, dossiers on key rivals, encrypted communic

sabotage. Political influence. And deeper shadows-p

was un

lingly or not, w

nformation, one thread rem

te

fficial reports were thin, incomplete. A cor

ame had hovered t

Damien's war, Camille glimpsed hints-

was here.

uld fi

-

ell onc

ght, another me

te terrace. C

hat, the messa

nderstated, yet commanding. She arrive

ed in glass and ivy, the city lights glittering beyond

he said

e

silence as the firs

amien

as an in

s gaze s

intercepted in Antwerp. Int

sse

. This

. "But the mess

ed this. "They

ey

down, fingers d

"They will test us-test you. The board, the

as calm. "I

thing darker flicker

han I expected,

is gaze, puls

e not what

lence fell b

ose, stepping

t hesitant. Fingers brushed a s

tact wa

tween them shi

r spok

t

-

ment, Camille stood by her window,

ger was

th was

elling, unreadable-was drawing her

ragon had cho

ould see

e ver