Page 179 of Obey

I say nothing.

“They question your loyalty, and somehow you’re still there making sure their launch goes perfectly?”

“How long have you been watching me?”

“Long enough to know Nathaniel had you followed. Funny how the man who questions everyone else's loyalty has so much trouble earning it himself.”

I hang up.

The phone buzzes almost immediately.

Unknown number: The west wall is better once the lights come down. Tell them to dim it another twenty percent.

Nausea coils low in my gut as I hesitantly look toward the windows and see nothing. No movement. No Adrian.

Just my own reflection staring back at me.

forty-four

Final Clearance

A server drops a tray of champagne flutes the second I step off the elevator. The shatter echoes through the lobby, drawing a few startled looks before the staff returns to their preparations.

Sloane's already there, tablet in hand, headset clipped neatly to her ear. She directs someone to help clean up the glass before turning her attention to the logistics team.

“Move the models' staging area another six feet to the left. And somebody check those lights. We're using silver tones, not amber. SOLAÉ is precision and control, not a candlelit dinner.”

Even from across the lobby, I can hear the authority in her voice. She's been keeping this entire launch together while the rest of us have been busy tearing apart the one thing that mattered more.

Elias joins me near the elevator, sleeves rolled up, coffee in hand. “She's been here since seven.”

“I tried texting her this morning.”

“Any luck?”

I give him a look.

“Right.”

Nate comes off the elevator a minute later, phone pressed to his ear. He ends the call when he reaches us, his attention immediately finding Sloane across the lobby.

“Staff briefing starts in five,” Elias tells him.

Nate adjusts his cuffs. “Then let's go.”

We follow the stream of employees into the main event space, where Sloane has gathered the department leads, vendors, security personnel, and event coordinators for their final morning check-in.

She's standing near the stage with a tablet in one hand and a microphone in the other. Behind her, the presentation screen displays the day's schedule, complete with department assignments and deadlines.

“Good morning, everyone. We're less than twelve hours from welcoming our first guests, so I want to make sure we're all working from the same schedule.”

She moves through the departments one by one, confirming deliveries, security checkpoints, lighting cues, and the final rehearsal. People answer her questions, take notes, and move on to their assignments without hesitation.

She's fucking brilliant.

And I'm so proud of her it hurts.

Then she reaches the executive assignments.