CHAPTER TWELVE“An empire,” Geena repeated, smiling like she’d been waiting all day to hear him say it. “Good. Because empires don’t run on sentiment, big brother. They run on leverage. And you’re about to get your first lesson in exactly that.”Jensen closed the folder.“Then teach me,” he said to her. “Start with whatever’s actually useful. Skip the parts where you dress it up as a metaphor.”Geena’s smile sharpened. “Fine. Next week, the three major families and Everest Corporation are throwing a charity dinner….” She stood up, walking toward the mini bar to pour herself a drink.“…Officially, it’s raising money for underfunded community programs.” She let the pause stretch. “Unofficially, it’s a cage match dressed in black tie. Everyone who matters in this city is going to be in that room, sniffing for blood, trying to figure out who’s actually running Whitmore.”“Meet me, you mean.” He said.“Meet you,” she confirmed. “They already know the company exists. Nobody knows the fa

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Jensen stepped into the VIP section.He wasn't done spending yet."Can I help you?" The salesman's eyes swept over the bags from the menswear store, then over Jensen's face. He frowned. "Or did you wander in by mistake?""I'd like to see the special pieces."The man laughed, short and ugly. "Those start at fifty thousand, pretty boy. This isn't a pawn shop where you bring in your mother's wedding ring and walk out with a sob story. Try the food court. The kiosk by the pretzel stand does battery replacements for five bucks. that's more your price range."A woman browsing nearby snorted into her hand."I didn't ask for comedy," Jensen said. "I asked to see the collection.""And I'm telling you to leave before security makes it ugly for both of us." The man leaned on the counter, smug as a cat with a bird in its mouth. "This is the VIP session. Random playboys don't touch anything in here. These pieces are above you. Way above.""Funny," Jensen said. "I've yet to meet