The silence of the elevator was more unnerving than the gunfire from Monday morning. Julian Thron stood rigid, his reflection in the polished brass doors mocking him. The bespoke midnight-blue tuxedo felt like a straitjacket. He was used to the weight of a holster; the weight of silk was a distraction he couldn't afford."You're doing it again," Maya whispered. She stood beside him, a vision in emerald silk that hid the bandage on her ribs—a souvenir from the Monday Morning Meltdown."Doing what?" Julian rasped, his voice still gravelly from the smoke of the warehouse fire."Scanning for snipers," she said, reaching over to catch his hand. Her touch was warm, a sharp contrast to the sterile environment. "Your eyes are moving like a predator's, Julian. Tonight, you're an investor. You're charming. You're my Plus One.
Investors don't look at the ceiling for tactical vents; they look at the champagne.""This is a mistake, Maya. I should be at the perimeter, not the center."The elevator doors chimed and slid open. A wall of heat, expensive perfume, and the aggressive hum of a hundred elite voices hit them. The Grand Ballroom was a sea of light. This wasn't a mission Julian could shoot his way out of."The mistake was Monday," Maya said, her voice dropping to a low, commanding tone as she stepped out, forcing him to follow. "Tonight is the correction. Smile, Julian. The sharks are watching."As they descended the marble staircase, Julian saw him. Standing near the ice sculpture at the far end of the room was Vane—the man who had ordered the hit on Monday morning. He was laughing, a crystal glass in his hand, looking like the pillar of society he pretended to be.Vane's eyes drifted toward the stairs. They lingered on Maya for a second, then snapped to Julian. The laughter didn't leave Vane's face, but his eyes went cold. He didn't recognize the Professional in a tuxedo immediately, but the "Meltdown" had left a scent on Julian that silk couldn't hide."He saw me," Julian muttered through a fixed, tight smile."I know," Maya replied, her grip tightening on his arm. "Now, let's go say hello."