The air in Michael Helwart’s office crackled with a dangerous energy. His dark eyes, usually so controlled, held a glint of pure, icy fury. "You found a replacement," he stated, the words not a question but an accusation. "You went behind my back and found someone."

She had executed her plan with flawless, infuriating efficiency. Find the replacement, train her, and then walk away. She was orchestrating her own exit without a shred of his input, and the audacity of it was a direct challenge ...