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Chapter 1
Paige
A heavy bass rhythm pounds through my eardrums as I focus on the windows revealing the first light of dawn. It’s five in the morning and I'm already in motion. This is my time—the hour where the world is still asleep, and the gym is my sanctuary. The rhythmic pounding of my feet on the treadmill sets the pace for the day ahead, each step a declaration of determination.
It’s my morning routine. If I cannot get in a workout before work, I don’t feel right. The pace is easy for me. A seven with a slight incline. It’s enough to get my heart pumping and my body sweating. The music pumping through my ears motivates me, but even while half my brain is singing along, the other half is thinking about the deposition I have on the schedule for later in the day. I was reciting questions, wanting to be completely prepared.
Mid-stride, a voice interrupts my solitary rhythm. “Hey there, beautiful. Mind if I join you?”
I glance sideways, catching the lingering gaze of a man I've seen around the gym before. I offer a polite but firm smile. “Sorry, I prefer to work out alone.”
Undeterred, he persists. “Come on, don’t be like that. I can spot you, make sure you’re pushing yourself.”
“I don’t need any help pushing myself.”
That was laughable. I was thirty-one, a bulldog in the courtroom and one of the youngest associates to get on the partner track at my law firm.
I needed no help getting motivated.
Ignoring his advances, I increase the speed on the treadmill, leaving him behind in a cloud of determination. I learned long ago that I have no time for distractions, especially not in the form of unwanted attention from gym regulars. They were looking for a quick lay. The last thing I wanted in my life was distraction. Especially from a man that thought hitting on a sweaty woman was the way to get in her pants.
I push hard for the last ten minutes of my run. Sweat trickles down my face and back. Never once do I lose my focus. It’s a challenge I relish and of course, I absolutely kill. I slow the speed and start my cool down. I reach for the towel and wipe away the sweat. The gym was in my building, which made it very convenient. With my busy schedule, convenience was important. Not just important, but critical. I work eighteen hours a day a couple days a week. I didn’t have time for things like traffic or grocery shopping.
After the intense workout and a quick shower, I put on one of my power suits and pulled my sleek black hair into a high ponytail. It was my usual look. My Manolas added a couple of inches to my usual five feet six inches. When playing in a man’s world, every inch counted. I didn’t want to be known as a ball buster, but I did need to make it clear I could handle myself when facing off with some cocky dude with a Harvard Law degree.
I park my Tesla in the parking garage and make my way inside. I love striding through the towering glass doors of my law firm. It never gets old. I knew I wanted to be a lawyer from the time I was very young. Every morning, I walked into the place; it was like a little pat on the back. I made it. I achieved my dreams.
Almost.
I wanted to be a partner. I knew it would happen soon, but not yet. That meant I had to be half an hour early every day. I had to put in the long hours. My sole focus was on impressing the partners. I stop by the juice bar in the lobby to get my usual green smoothie.
When I walk into the office, Jeff, my boss, waves me into his office as soon as I step foot on the floor. “Be right there,” I call out.
I quickly go to my office to drop off my briefcase and drink and then rush back to see him. “Good morning,” I greet with a bright smile.
“Good morning. Have a seat.”
I doubt I’m in trouble, but there’s always the possibility. I take a seat and wait for him to tell me what he needs.
“Paige, I've got something big for you,” he says, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
“What’s up?”
“We’ve been contacted by a whistleblower,” Jeff reveals, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “And they’ll only speak to you.”
My interest is immediately raised. Whistleblower cases are high-stakes, and they come with their own set of risks and rewards. I loved working the big cases that would get my name in the papers. That was always a trigger effect. More whistleblowers came forward. Sometimes the cases turned out to be cash cows and sometimes they were wild goose chases.
“What’s the scoop?”
“It’s against Finance Wise Bank,” Jeff says, leaning back in his chair. “Insider trading, potentially worth millions.”
“Is it legit?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. I did some checking and there have been rumors about the bank, so it could be. I know I can trust you to talk with the whistleblower and see if there’s anything to it. It’s one of the big ten financial institutions. This would be big. Huge.”
I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins at the mere mention of such a high-profile case. “When do I meet them?”
Jeff’s next words send a chill down my spine. “They’re hiding out in Hawaii. The man feels like he’s in danger if he stays in Seattle. He’s incredibly careful. Maybe a little paranoid. I want to believe him, but you’ll need to feel him out. You’ll need to travel to Hawaii to meet with him. He refuses to step foot in Seattle or the mainland in general. If we don’t accommodate his wishes, he’ll take the case to another firm.”
