Chapter 160: In The Flesh, Darling

Reese Life’s easy when you’re certain the job’s already won. There’s something ego-inflating about it—knowing that whatever’s in front of you is going to crumble exactly how you planned. Just like the Penelope case. Or rather, the Penelope problem. Penny, my ex. Six years older than me, two shades colder, and one hell of a woman to break. Most men tremble in front of strong women like her. I don’t. I learned early that power looks intimidating until you figure out where the cracks are. You find the right buttons, and they’re suddenly the ones who unravel fastest. The ones who come undone quicker than anyone else. That’s the real thrill: watching the self-assured lose control and thanking you for it. Tonight, she was my task. My chess piece. My next success. I sat in a booth tucked into the back of the club, dim light throwing red glints on the whiskey glass in my hand as I watched her. From this angle, she couldn’t see me. But I saw everything. Every flick of her hair. Every disappoint