“The system can be updated,” I said.

“Not without the administrative clearance,” Adrian said, a tiny smirk touching the corner of his mouth. “And from what I understand, the city has already locked the database pending an investigation.”

He was so confident. He truly believed he had locked me out.

“You always did underestimate my IT security protocols, Adrian,” I said softly.

Adrian’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, then returned.

“I have no idea what you mean,” he said.

“I know,” I said. “And that is exactly why you are going to lose.”

I turned away from him, leaving him standing there with his glass half-raised, the confusion finally beginning to register on his face.

“Where are we going?” Julian asked as we walked toward the exit of the ballroom.

“To see Margaret Hale,” I said. “She is hosting the private VIP reception in the oak room upstairs.”

“She won’t be pleased to have her evening interrupted,” Julian warned.

“She will be less pleased if she finds out tomorrow that one of her flagship renewal projects was almost sabotaged by a contractor she is about to hire for the transit project,” I said.