Chapter 212

• ROWEN
• I woke up at three minutes past four a.m., eyes snapping open in the pitch black of my hotel suite. The glow from the city barely made it past the blackout curtains. My body operated like a machine, tight schedule, trained instincts, zero hesitation. I didn’t need an alarm. Discipline did the job. I sat up, letting the cold slap of early morning air sting my bare chest for a few seconds before getting out of bed.
• A quick cold shower followed, brutal and brisk. I scrubbed away the stale scent of yesterday’s boardrooms and perfumed lobby air. After drying off, I slipped into a black turtleneck and charcoal slacks.