Chapter 58 Naya’s Bruised Pride
The elevator doors opened.
Naya limped into the lobby. Her ankle throbbed. Her pride throbbed more.
She had never been treated like that. Not ever. She was the daughter of a congressman. A presidential candidate. Men fell over themselves to please her. They opened doors. They pulled out chairs. They laughed at her jokes even when they weren’t funny.
And Dorian Thorne had pushed her to the floor.
She stopped in the middle of the lobby. People were staring. Employees. Visitors. Security guards.
She did not care.
She pulled out her phone. She dialed her father’s number.
He answered on the second ring. "Naya. What is it?"
"He rejected me," she said. Her voice was cold. "Dorian Thorne. He chose some nobody over me. He pushed me. I fell. My ankle is swollen."
Her father was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to destroy him. I want you to make him regret this. I want his company to suffer. I want his reputation to crumble. I want him to come crawling back to me."
Another pause. Longer this time.
"Your mother and I have discussed this," her father said slowly. "Dorian Thorne is not a man to be threatened. He has resources. Connections. Allies. If we move against him, he will move against us."
"So you’re going to do nothing?"
"I’m going to be patient. The election is in six months. After I win, we will have more leverage. For now, you need to stay away from him."
Naya’s grip tightened on the phone. "You’re afraid of him."
"I’m smart. There’s a difference."
The line went dead.
Naya stared at her phone. Her father would not help her. She would have to handle this herself.
She limped out of the lobby. Her car was waiting. The driver opened the door. She climbed inside.
As the car pulled away, she looked up at the glass tower. Somewhere at the top, Dorian Thorne was sitting at his desk, probably already forgetting she existed.
"This isn’t over," she whispered. "I never give up."
The car turned the corner. The tower disappeared from view.
~~~~~~
Veyra hung up Li Wei’s phone and handed it back to him.
Her heart was still pounding. Her cheeks were still warm. She tried to focus on the task at hand.
"Let’s go," she said.
They walked downstairs together. The living room was empty now. The family had finished lunch. The table had been cleared.
But Lily was waiting by the front door.
She was wearing a yellow sundress. Her hair was in pigtails. Her bandaged neck was covered by a light scarf.
"Veyra!" Lily ran toward her. "I want to come with you!"
Veyra knelt down. "I’m not going somewhere fun. I’m going to thank someone who helped find you. It might be boring."
"I don’t care. I want to come."
"The Old Madam wouldn’t approve."
Lily’s face fell. "She doesn’t have to know."
Veyra smiled. She wished she could take Lily. But the Old Madam’s eyes would be watching. Always watching.
"I’ll bring you something," Veyra said. "What do you want?"
Lily thought for a moment. "Bacon pizza."
Veyra laughed. "Bacon pizza. I can do that."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Lily hugged her. Tight and quick. Then she ran back toward the stairs.
Veyra stood up. She looked at Li Wei.
"Let’s go before she changes her mind."
They walked out the front door.
Three black cars were parked in the driveway. Seven or eight bodyguards stood beside them. Dark suits. Earpieces. Sunglasses.
Veyra stopped.
"This is too much," she said. "It’s just a pizza shop. On Elm Street."
Li Wei opened the door of the middle car. "Mr. Thorne’s instructions. You don’t leave the estate without a full detail."
"I’m going to thank an old woman for her help she render and not to attend a state dinner."
"Mr. Thorne’s instructions."
Veyra sighed. She climbed into the car.
The bodyguards piled into the other cars. The convoy pulled out of the estate gates.
Veyra watched the trees pass by the window. She thought about the phone call. The way Dorian’s voice had sounded. Soft. Warm. Intimate.
It was an act, she reminded herself. A performance for whoever was listening.
But it had felt real.
She shook her head. She needed to focus.
"Li Wei," she said. "Did you bring the Nightblade?"
Li Wei reached into a compartment between the seats. He pulled out a small case. He handed it to her.
Inside was the disassembled pistol. The parts were arranged in foam padding.
"Thank you," Veyra said.
She took out the parts. Her fingers found their places. The frame. The trigger assembly. The recoil spring.
She assembled the gun. Two minutes and fifteen seconds. Not great. But better than before.
She disassembled it. Two minutes.
Assembled it again. Two minutes and five seconds.
The car hummed along the road. The city passed by the windows. Veyra did not look up. Her eyes were on the gun. Her fingers moved.
Click. Disassemble. Click. Assemble.
She lost track of time. The rhythm of the practice was hypnotic. The world outside disappeared.
"Mrs. Thorne."
Li Wei’s voice pulled her back.
She looked up. The car had stopped. They were parked on a narrow street. Shops lined both sides. A red awning caught her eye.
Clark’s Pizza.
"We’re here," Li Wei said.
Veyra looked down at her hands. She had the gun assembled. She did not remember putting it together.
She set it back in the case. She closed the lid.
"How long was I practicing?"
"Thirty minutes. Maybe forty."
She had not noticed. The time had flown.
She tucked the case under the seat. She grabbed her bag. The one thousand was still inside.
"Let’s go," she said.
Li Wei opened the door. Veyra stepped out onto the sidewalk.
The pizza shop was small. A red awning. A neon sign that flickered. A display case showing slices of pizza under warm lights.
Veyra walked toward the door.
Her heart was full.
She was about to thank the woman who had helped save Lily’s life.