Li Feng was the chief financial officer and daughter of the founder of QuiTel, China’s largest telecom company. QuiTel was suspected of using the cell phone equipment they sold in the U.S. to spy on U.S. citizens and was supposed to have been blacklisted from doing business in the country. But the suspicions were just that—suspicions, however well-founded. And without proof of wrongdoing, the company had been granted an exemption to that ban for several years. The exemption was due to expire at the end of the week, but China wanted the exemption for QuiTel to be made permanent as part of the new deal. If the CFO were to testify that the spying was real, it would squash the exemption for good.

Millie and Lance knew Arrow stood to benefit financially by selling new equipment to replace the cheaper equipment that QuiTel provided, but they suspected Arrow had other plans behind the scenes with more sinister potential. It was Millie’s job to figure out what those plans were, and to stop them.

“I can’t believe Lance pawned something this important off on a secretary.”

This time Millie was the one who moved in closer to Arrow.

“I’m not a secretary, and I’m definitely not a pawn, Mr. Donaldson.”

She put her hand out one more time, this time without a smile. Arrow shook it limply.

“You better watch your moves, Millie Martindale,” Arrow said.

When Arrow walked away, Millie took a deep breath and exhaled. Lance had told her this would happen. Millie had been pushing Lance to give her more responsibility and this was the perfect chance. Arrow Donaldson had a reputation for having trouble dealing with people he believed were beneath him, especially women.

And if Arrow became angry or frustrated, he was bound to make a mistake, one that would let the CIA stop him before he did anything terrible. They had backup plans in place, of course, but Millie could already tell she was going to be able to crack Arrow Donaldson.

When her breathing returned to normal, Millie joined the rest of the group. Arrow was off to the side talking on his phone. He saw her watching him and she smiled. He put his phone in his suit coat pocket and came back toward the group.

“Li Feng will remain under my secure protection for another night,” Arrow said. “So why don’t you all head to your hotel to rest a bit and we’ll regroup for dinner this evening?”

“That’s not what we agreed to. That’s not what I agreed to. I want to see Li Feng now.”

“I just got off of the phone with your boss and he agreed to it.”

“You talked to Lance?”