IV
IV Amal Shalewood breathed in deeply as she gripped the golden handle to Governor Grimoire’s office. Through the frosted glass she could see his shadow, and she heard his deep voice talking to someone. “He’ll see you now,” the governor’s secretary said. “He’s just wrapping up a call.” Amal thanked the secretary and entered the room. The air was thick with remnants of cigar smoke and musk. Ennius sat at his desk, his hands clasped together as he spoke into his phone on speaker. Amal had wanted to come into the room with insults swinging. The governor had shut down the most important political speech of her life, and she was powerless. But she had to wait now. She didn’t know what to do with her nervous energy. Pace? Breathe deeply? Never in her life had she wanted to explode more th
- Writer
