“Effective immediately, Eli and Owen are disqualified from the final round,” he said.

Claire walked out of the office and let the heavy oak door click shut behind her.

The corridor was mostly empty except for a tall aluminum water fountain near the elevators.

Vanessa stood waiting beside the frosted glass.

She wore a tailored camel trench coat draped perfectly over her shoulders.

Vanessa reached up and smoothed her immaculate blonde hair behind her right ear.

“I tried to make this very easy for you yesterday morning,” Vanessa said.