Black and White Smoke - Thomas V Papa

A corporate thriller

Power games are played in the boardroom, while other deadly moves occur in the shadows.

Threats are mounting against an innovative business intelligence firm. Its CFO, Jon Kiza, a behind-the-scenes operator, hasn't been in the spotlight. But when the CEO vanishes, and a game-changing deal starts unraveling, he's thrust into an unexpected race for the top job -where he faces Paxton Stump, the firm's charismatic rainmaker. Guile and patient positioning are pitted against charm and flamboyant thrusts. It's a duel between the chess-minded quant and the warrior poet.

While on a trip, Jon is put in the crosshairs of alluring forces he didn't see coming. A smear campaign takes shape, and he realizes that far more dangerous threats lurk in the shadows. Cornered, he fights back. Meanwhile, Paxton bags a game-changing deal with a client prospect, but obstacles follow, and the goal posts keep shifting. Regardless, the bacon winner won't be stopped.

Of the two, who will sway the board?

Set across multiple cities, Black and White Smoke is an international, fast-paced corporate thriller packed with boardroom intrigue, spiced with corporate espionage, and with characters diced by unchecked greed.

In this world, every tidbit of information is leverage. And every choice has consequences.