Chapter 244
No.1
Elisa walked out of the heavy glass revolving doors of the Tribeca building.
She wore a sharply tailored, jet-black Tom Ford suit.The fabric was immaculate, cutting a severe,authoritative silhouette. Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight, flawless chignon at the nape of her neck. She looked like a weapon.
The morning air was crisp and cold. She raised her hand to hail a yellow cab to take her to the FDA hearing in Washington Square.
"Ms. Wilder."
Elisa stopped. She lowered her hand.
A massive, black armored Maybach was idling at the curb. The rear passenger window was rolled halfway down. August's cold, handsome profile was visible in the shadows of the backseat.
The driver stood by the open rear door. He looked at Elisa with an apologetic expression.
No.2
"The. matriarch sent strict instructions," the driver said quietly. "She insists that you and Mr. Chambers arrive at the venue in the same vehicle."
Elisa's jaw tightened. Germaine's spies were everywhere.
She didn't argue. She walked past the driver, ducked her head, and slid into the backseat. She moved all the way to the opposite side of the wide leather bench, leaving two feet of empty space between her and August.
The Maybach pulled smoothly into the heavy Manhattan traffic.
The heavy door slammed shut, sealing them inside the quiet, climate-controlled cabin. The silence in the car was thick and suffocating. August stared out his window, watching the city blocks roll by. He wore a custom navy suit, his posture rigid, his jaw a hard line of tension. Finally, unable to bear the silence,he spoke, his voice low and abrasive.
"I have my legal team contacting my mother," August said suddenly. He didn't turn his head.
He was trying to reclaim his authority. He hated the
No.3
fact that he had fled the apartment this morning.
Elisa pulled her smartphone from her pocket. She didn't look at him.
"Tell them to work faster," Elisa said coldly, tapping her screen. "My patience is running out."
August's jaw clenched. He turned his head,preparing to snap back at her dismissive tone.
Before he could speak, the sharp, cheerful ringtone of a FaceTime call shattered the silence.
The sound came from August's inner jacket pocket.He pulled out his private phone.
The screen illuminated the dark backseat. The name "Allena" flashed across the glass, accompanied by a picture of her smiling face.
No.4
August hesitated for a fraction of a second. He glanced sideways at Elisa.
Elisa didn't even blink. She kept her eyes locked on her own screen. She reached into her suit pocket,pulled out her white AirPods, and shoved them into her ears with an exaggerated, deliberate motion.
August's eyes darkened at the insult. He tapped the green accept button.
Allena's face appeared on the screen. She was sitting in the guest bedroom of the penthouse,wearing a silk robe. Her makeup was perfectly applied to look natural.
"August, baby," Allena's voice drifted through the car.It was high-pitched, thick with a cloying, needy sweetness. "Are you on your way? My ankle is throbbing again."
Elisa's stomach churned. The physical revulsion was instant.
August's voice immediately softened. The cold CEO vanished, replaced by the protective savior.
No.5
"I already called Dr. Evans," August said smoothly."He will be at the penthouse in twenty minutes. If you are in pain, you don't have to come to the hearing today."
"No, I have to be there," Allena·insisted, pouting her lips at the camera. "It's my project. I need to see our hard work get the recognition it deserves."
Elisa let out a silent, bitter laugh. Our hard work. The sheer audacity of the woman was staggering.Allena couldn't even write a basic line of code.
Elisa ignored the sickening conversation. She opened her encrypted messaging app.
A new message from Alastair Cromwell was waiting.
Situation update. The FDA just swapped the regional committee chair for today's hearing.
Elisa's fingers flew across the digital keyboard.
No.6
Who is the replacement?
The three gray typing dots appeared on the screen.Two seconds later, Alastair's reply popped up.
Helena Hawthorne.
Elisa's pupils dilated. Her heart slammed against her ribs in a sudden, sharp spike of adrenaline.
She knew that name. Everyone in the medical tech industry knew that name. Helena Hawthorne was a legend. She was the most ruthless, uncompromising regulator in the federal government.
More importantly, Elisa remembered the arrogant
face of Cyprian Thatcher from the penthouse conservatory.
No.7
She quickly opened a secure browser and ran a background search. The results confirmed her suspicion instantly.
Helena Hawthorne was Cyprian Thatcher's biological grandmother.
The absolute highest authority at today's hearing was the matriarch of the enemy camp.
Elisa slowly pulled the right AirPod out of her ear. She turned her head and looked at August, who was stil whispering sweet reassurances to his mistress on the phone.
A slow, dangerous smile spread across Elisa's face.The battlefield had just shifted, and the enemy had no idea.