The executive suite of Thorne Empire looked like the site of a natural disaster.

Papers were scattered across the floor like fallen leaves. The massive digital stock ticker mounted on the wall flashed a relentless, angry red, the numbers plummeting lower with every passing second. The phones on th

The rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of Clara Vance’s new penthouse office. Unlike the gaudy, gold-leafed monstrosity Julian had designed for himself at Thorne Empire, Clara’s sanctuary at Aura House was a study in monochromatic power. Charcoal slate, brushed steel, and flawless whit

The lobby of the building formerly known as Thorne Empire was a circus of flashing lights, shouting reporters, and corporate chaos.

Outside the towering glass doors, the morning sun beat down on Fifth Avenue, illuminating the massive cherry-picker crane parked on the sidewalk. Two workers in hard