TWO DAYS AGO
FIRST AND WHITE
MARCELLA leaned back in her chair and admired the view.
The city spilled away beyond her floor-to-ceiling windows, rolled out like a carpet beneath her feet.
Once upon a time she’d stood on the rooftop of a college frat and thought she could see all of Merit. But it had only been a few small blocks, the rest swallowed up by higher buildings. This was a real view. This was her city.
She turned back toward the desk, where the cards sat waiting.
They’d arrived in a lovely silk box—one hundred crisp white invitations, the front of each embossed with an elegant gold M.
She drew one from the box and flicked it open.
The words were printed in curling black, the edges embossed with gold.
Marcella Morgan and her associates
request your presence at the exclusive reveal of
Merit’s most extraordinary venture.
The future of the city starts now.
This Friday, the 23rd. 6 p.m.
Invitation admits 2.
Marcella smiled, turning the card between her fingers.
What now? June had asked. You’re going to throw yourself a fucking party?
Marcella knew the girl had meant it as a joke, but Stell had tipped his hand, the night they met, and let a face card show.
No more grand displays. The last thing this city needs . . .
But, of course, Stell hadn’t really been talking about the city. He meant EON. Yes, a little publicity would be bad for their business.
And so, that was exactly what Marcella planned to give them.
She was done playing by other people’s rules. Done hiding. If you lived in the dark, you died in the dark. But stand in the light, and it was that much harder to make you disappear.
And Marcella Renee Morgan wasn’t going anywhere.