Chapter 58

Nathan Cain’s office looked more like a staged showroom than a place where work actually happened. Not a scrap of paper in sight; the only thing out of place was Nathan himself, sunk behind his massive desk, lips stiff from too much Botox. His secretary handed over an espresso so tiny it looked absurd in such a sterile space. Nathan tried for a smile, which only made him look more embalmed than before. I sipped my coffee and waited for the performance to end. After dragging out small talk just long enough to hear his own voice, Nathan finally dropped the act. “You’re aware of the… chatter about your appointment as Pinnacle’s vice president.” He made the word ‘vice’ sound almost dirty. “Your resume was cute. But not quite legendary, wouldn’t you agree? Especially since you’d never worked a day in your life before joining us.” I stared back, unblinking. “So?” He fumbled his sausage fingers into a steeple—none too gracefully. “So, your seat isn’t as secure as you think. Lucian may be the