Victoria

Prologue

A woman walked purposefully through the halls, her heels clicking on the metal floor. Her bodyguards trailed her quietly. Even though she had two hulking thugs on her side, it probably wouldn't be enough. She checked one last time that her handgun was camouflaged and easily accessible. Her every thought was on who she was meeting. It was best not to take chances.

She turned the last corner and paused in front of the room for a minute. Stop it, she told herself firmly. The head of the most powerful security company in the world does not cower. And with that, she strode into the meeting room.

"Ah, Janet. Fashionably late and lovely as ever."
The well dressed man rose and kissed her hand. He was handsome, but Janet knew better than to be smitten.

"Roguish flatter, " she said with a smile. "It's been quite a while. How are you?"

"Well as can be expected." They both sat down at the table. "I apologize for calling you on such short notice. I know you're busy."

"My schedule is as flexible as it needs to be. What is the purpose of this meeting?"

He took a deep breath. "I have considered your offer. And I have decided to accept it."

Janet allowed her features to break into a smile. "That's wonderful! I'm so glad."

"Do you have a picture of her that I can see?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Janet reached down and dug into her purse, moving the handgun aside. She pulled out a picture of a young woman. The woman was noticeably pretty, and had dark hair and a mischievous smile. She handed him the picture. He examined it for a few minutes.

"Will she be any trouble? She looks... a little rebellious."

"Oh no. I'll keep her in line. So we have a deal?" She held out her hand.

He grasped it in a firm handshake. "We have a deal."

She gathered up her purse. "I must be going." She looked around at her two bodyguards, and his two bodyguards. "Do you want to dispose of them, or should I do it?"

He pulled out a pistol. "I'll take care of it."

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Janet was almost out of the building when she heard the gunshots. They did not concern her. A sister (and a couple of bodyguards) was a small price to pay to rule the world.