Chapter 1

The heavy scent of lilies, Jessica' s favorite, filled the penthouse, a constant reminder of her presence, even when she wasn't in the room.

I sat in the custom-made wheelchair, a blanket over my legs, the picture of a man recovering from a devastating Aspen skiing accident.

My back, according to the doctors Jessica had paraded through here, was a wreck.

Innovatech Solutions, my company, was supposedly in her "capable" hands.

"Alex, darling, just a few more papers for the new Aspen chalet," Jessica cooed, leaning over me, her perfume almost suffocating.

Her red nails tapped the thick document folder.

"You know, a place for us to truly recover, away from all this stress."

Her eyes, however, didn't meet mine, they darted towards the city view, towards the Innovatech tower gleaming in the distance.

Marcus Thorne, my best friend since college, my COO, stood a little behind her, a shadow with a predatory stillness.

He gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod.

They thought I was oblivious, broken.

I saw the faint lipstick smudge on Marcus's collar earlier that morning, the same shade Jessica wore.

I saw the way their hands brushed "accidentally" when they thought I wasn't looking.

"Of course, Jess," I said, my voice deliberately weak. "Whatever you think is best."

She guided my hand to the signature lines, her touch surprisingly cold.

She believed these were stock transfer agreements, giving her and Marcus controlling interest in Innovatech.

The chalet papers were a clever touch, a perfect cover for her greed.

Mike "Tank" Johnson, my head of security, an ex-Marine built like a small mountain, stood impassively by the door.

Jessica and Marcus barely acknowledged him, a piece of furniture.

But Mike's eyes met mine for a split second, a flicker of understanding passing between us.

He knew. He'd been the first to tell me when Marcus initially tried to bribe him, months ago, long before Aspen.

The "skiing accident" was my idea, a painful, elaborate stage.

Jessica smiled, a triumphant, ugly twist of her lips as I scrawled my name.

"There, all done," she chirped, snatching the folder back. "Now, you just rest, Alex. Marcus and I will handle everything."

Marcus finally spoke, his voice smooth, like oil. "Yes, Alex. We've got it covered. You focus on getting better."

They left, their laughter echoing faintly from the hallway, too quick, too relieved.

I looked at the lilies, their cloying sweetness suddenly unbearable.

The game had begun.