The first ugly story went up at six twelve the next morning. I was brushing my teeth when Nadia sent the link.

**FROM HOUSEWIFE TO DEALMAKER: DID MARA BENNETT BUILD HER NEW FIRM ON VALE CONNECTIONS?**

I read the first three paragraphs standing barefoot in my kitchen. An

Northstar's conference room had a better view than my apartment and worse coffee.

Nadia sat beside me with the Vale debt summary open on her laptop. Across the table, Caleb Ross had brought in two people I had not met before: Northstar's credit director and an outside

Dominic arrived at my office eleven minutes early. He had never been early for anything that did not involve a plane.

Nadia looked through the glass wall at him, then at me. "Do you want me in there?"

"No."

"Do you want me directly outside pretending not to listen?"

"Yes."