The images are already spreading across social media—interior shots of The Sanctuary, footage of unidentifiable members in compromising positions, financial records showing payments to offshore accounts.Everything Elena promised to protect in exchange for partnership, now being systematically released to destroy Adrien’s business and reputation.
“How long before this reaches the major networks?”Adrien asks.
I check my phone, scrolling through the rapidly spreading story.“It’s already trending.Podcasts and small pubs will be on it immediately.Larger outlets will attempt to verify.It looks like what’s playing out on social media is much more of a guessing game of who is in the photos.At least you’re not a public company.”
He lifts his phone to his ear, presumably calling Alicia.
I watch the bomb disposal team carefully carrying their equipment out of the building, while Adrien paces the corner of the lobby, phone tight to his ear.
The Sanctuary—three years of work, a billion-dollar investment, Adrien’s first independent success—crumbling in real time as Elena Vasquez demonstrates exactly what happens to people who cross her.
When he joins me again, I say, “I’m sorry.This is my fault.I pushed to find the blackmailer and–”
“If you hadn’t pushed, Pierce would still be extorting votes and Elena would still be operating freely.You did the right thing.”He stretches his neck to one side and kneads the area, as if he’s moved on and a tight shoulder muscle is now his biggest worry.“We did the right thing.”
“Even if it costs you everything?”
“Some things are worth any cost,” he says, pulling me into his side.“You’re one of those things.”
Outside the lobby windows, Manhattan continues its eternal rhythm—traffic flowing through streets like blood through arteries, lights flickering on in windows as people settle into their nighttime routines, the great machine of the city grinding forward regardless of individual triumphs or disasters.
Residents in the tower cluster in pockets around the lobby, waiting to be allowed back up to their homes.Some went across the street to Starbucks.Firetrucks are lined up on the street outside, the red lights flashing but the sirens silent.
“You realize she’s a terrorist.She was willing to kill innocent people to make a point.”
“True,” he says, his hold on me tightening.“After they’re done here, we’re to meet Alicia at her place in Manhattan.She’s offered for us to stay there tonight.”
“Do you want to do that?”
“No.The floor and building will be secure.But I do need to go to her place.She’s handling member communications at the moment, but I need to meet with her.You’ll go with me, right?”
“Of course,” I say.
What I don’t say is I wouldn’t allow him to go out on his own.This kind of enemy requires a different approach entirely.And as I watch the news alerts multiply on my phone, each one documenting another piece of what goes on in his private club, I realize that this war is just beginning.She wanted fireworks on top of public humiliation.Well, she’s spun him into a PR crisis, but my gut tells me she won’t consider it done until her fireworks explode.
Adrien leans down, his breath warm against my ear.“You know what’s good about this?”
“People didn’t die?”It’s hard to derive any othergoodangle.
“It’s a mess, but I’m not facing it alone.You’re with me.”
And he’s right.I am.And for the first time, I have someone by my side too, at least, someone other than colleagues and a mission statement.
ChapterThirty-Four
Adrien
“Exactly what was leaked?I need to know.”
The man on the phone isn’t worried about corporate secrets; for that matter, none of the calls I’ve received today have been concerns regarding business matters.Everyone calling me is worried about exposure of their private proclivities.This particular man is in his early seventies and married almost fifty years ago, before prenuptial agreements were commonplace.He hasn’t said it, but I’m sure he’s concerned his wife will walk with half of everything.Although at his age, the arithmetic is odd; even halved, his fortune will outlive him by decades.
“I’m being straight up with you.I don’t know.I discovered the leak and have stopped it.All five locations will be closed while I do a thorough review to safeguard members’ privacy.”
“Going forward, you mean.Whatever has happened in the past may very well fuck us.”
That’s one way of putting it.Brie enters my office quietly, her eyes soft with concern.
“If it helps, I don’t believe there’s any reason information about you will be leaked.From what I can tell, the person who is leaking the images, so far, is taking care to ensure no one in the photos is identifiable.”
