The Distraction

The morning air in Brickell was filled with the smell of saltwater. I stood on the sidewalk outside the glass tower that housed Aegis Zenith Holdings and smoothed my charcoal-grey skirt suit. The fabric was Italian silk, but it felt like a straitjacket.

Three weeks ago, my fingers were stained with oil. Now, they were manicured, a soft, pink

Aegis Zenith was the powerhouse behind the infrastructure of the Southeast. While my father’s company, Thorne Strategic Construction, built the structures of the city, Aegis Zenith was the nervous system behind it. They handled the venture capital, the logistics, and the high-stakes land acquisitions that made my father’s blueprints possible.

I took a breath, adjusted the strap of my bra, and walked through the rotating glass doors.

"Eloise Thorne to see Mr. Vance," I said, my voice sounding more confident than I felt.

The guard didn't even ask for ID. He simply nodded and gestured toward the private elevator.

"Floor fifty-four, Miss Thorne. He’s expecting you."

The elevator doors opened directly into a penthouse office that spanned the entire floor.

"You’re four minutes early," a voice called out.

"I like that. Punctuality is the only form of politeness left in this city."

I turned. I had expected a man like my father, mean and ruthless.

He was standing by a glass drafting table, a tablet in one hand and a cup of black coffee in the other. He looked to be in his early thirties, with the muscles of an athlete. Someone who spent their weekends kite-surfing or mountain climbing rather than at a country club. His hair was dark and slightly tousled, and his eyes were a piercing blue.

He wasn't wearing a suit. He wore a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing forearms that looked surprisingly powerful for a man who moved numbers for a living.

"Caspian Vance," he said, stepping forward.

He looked me straight in the eye and offered a firm, professional handshake. His grip was warm.

"And you are the infamous Eloise Thorne."

"I thought the official narrative was 'recovering from a brief illness.'"

Caspian chuckled and gestured toward a pair of leather chairs.

"Between us? I’ve seen the videos that were leaked. I’ve heard the rumors about your 'adventure' in West Miami. And frankly, anyone who can make Harrison Thorne lose his temper that much is someone I want on my payroll."

Caspian leaned against the edge of his desk, his posture relaxed.

“I didn't agree to take you on as a favor. I took you on because Aegis Zenith is currently the lead financier for your father’s new 'Silver Moon' project. Your father is a brilliant builder, but he’s a dinosaur when it comes to modern optics. I need someone who knows his blind spots. Someone who isn't afraid to tell him he’s wrong."

"And you think that’s me?"

"I know it’s you," he said, stepping closer. He leaned in, the scent of expensive perfume and fresh coffee clouding my senses.

"Since you’re so eager to work, let’s start. Aegis Zenith is handling the logistical rollout for the Everglades Reserve Expansion. Your father’s construction crews are already on-site, clearing land. My job is to ensure the funding is being used appropriately."

He handed me the folder.

"I want you to go through the site permits. Cross-reference the GPS coordinates of the cleared areas with the protected wetlands maps..."

I took the folder, my mind already racing. This was exactly what I needed. Access to the GPS coordinates of the construction sites in the Everglades. If my father was using those sites to hide something, or to give Silas a base of operations, the proof would be in these files.

"Is there a problem?" Caspian asked, noticing my silence.

"No," I said, forcing a smile.

"There’s a desk for you in the corner. It has full access to our internal servers. I take my coffee black, my schedule is a nightmare, and I expect a summary of those permits by 5:00 PM."

I spent the next six hours submerged in data. To any outsider, I looked like the perfect assistant. I organized Caspian’s meetings, deflected calls from socialites, and went over land surveys.

Every time Caspian left the room for a conference call, I was digging deeper into the Silver Moon files. I couldn't find what I was looking for; one of the servers was blocked from access. I needed to get into that server, I needed to know what they were hiding.

Around 3:00 PM, Caspian walked over to my desk. I quickly closed the window I was in as he proceeded to stand behind me, looking over my shoulder at the screen. I could feel the heat of his body.

"You're fast," he remarked. His hand reached down, resting on the back of my chair, his fingers inches from my shoulder.

My heart raced...did he see?

"Most assistants take days to learn how to navigate our servers."

"I learn quickly," I said, keeping my eyes fixed on the monitor.

"I can see that." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur.

"You were born for this. The power, the complexity... You handle it better than he does," he said, referring to my father.

I turned my head, and for a moment our faces were inches apart.

"Dinner tonight. Smith & Wollensky. We’re meeting the head of the Port Authority. Wear something that says 'Thorne'..."

I waited until he was in a private meeting before I slipped into the restroom. I locked the door, pulled the burner phone from its hiding place, and sent the text.

To: Cane: Working for Caspian Vance. He has the maps to the Everglades sites. My father is moving something out there. I will update soon.

I waited, my thumb trembling on the screen.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like Eloise Thorne again.