Max stared at her, shock finally cracking through his arrogance. “You—You hit me!” “Yes,” Vivienne replied. “And if you speak again, security will escort you out face-first.” She turned sharply to the guards. “If either of you ever take an unlawful order again, you’ll be reassigned to basement logistics—permanently. Am I understood?” “Yes, ma’am,” they said in unison, voices shaking. Vivienne turned last to Lana. Lana was pale. Trembling. Vivienne didn’t give Lana time to gather herself. Lana’s knees buckled as she stepped forward, hands clasping together desperately. “P–Please—Director Hale—I was only trying to calm the situation,” she rushed out, voice cracking. “She was shouting, causing chaos—I was doing my job. I didn’t mean any disrespect—” “Shut the fuck up.” The words were quiet. Absolute. Lana froze mid-breath. Vivienne stepped closer, her heels precise, merciless. “You do not speak unless spoken to,” she said coldly. “Not after what you’ve done. Not after yo

“Get out now,” he said. Max spun back. “Or what?” Ethan didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t threaten. He simply said, “Or you leave now—on your own—or security removes you.” Max laughed, wild and furious. “You really think you can kick me out? After this?” “Yes,” Ethan said. “I do.” “And if I refuse?” Max challenged. Ethan glanced at Vivienne. “Escort him out,” he said calmly. Vivienne nodded once. “Security.” The guards straightened instantly. Max’s anger finally cracked into disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” One guard stepped forward. “Sir, you need to come with us.” Max backed up a step, eyes flashing. “Touch me and you’ll regret it.” The guard didn’t blink. “Sir.” Lana looked up, sobbing. “Max—please—” He didn’t look at her. “You’re not done,” Max snarled at Ethan. “You think this ends here?” Ethan met his glare without flinching. “Nothing ever does.” The guards closed in. Max jerked his arm free once, but the second grip held firm. “This is bullshit!”

Vivienne took the seat across from her, folding her hands. “I’ll be direct. What you witnessed earlier was… unfortunate. But it does not reflect how Galaxy operates.”“I know,” Jenna said quickly. “I—thank you. For stepping in. For everything.”Vivienne inclined her head slightly. “You handled yourself with restraint. That matters.”Jenna wasn’t sure how to respond to that.There was a pause.Then Vivienne’s gaze sharpened—not hostile, but assessing. “You came here today for a reason beyond that confrontation. I assume you didn’t bring nothing with you.”Jenna’s heart jumped.She hesitated, then reached into her bag with slightly trembling hands. “I—I brought my CV. And the project proposal. The Hadel family logistics restructuring.”She placed the documents carefully on the table, as if afraid they might disappear.Vivienne picked them up.She didn’t skim.She read.Silence stretched. Jenna clasped her hands together under the table, pulse loud in her ears. Every second felt like an

The words hit the room like a stone dropped into water.Chris’s face fell. “You… didn’t?”“I’m so sorry,” Jenna continued, her voice tight, carefully controlled. “I know how much this meant. I know you trusted me. I really thought—”Chris crossed the room in two strides and pulled her into a hug. “Hey. Hey,” he said quickly. “Don’t do that. Don’t blame yourself.”John didn’t move.He watched her closely.“You’re saying Galaxy rejected the proposal?” he asked.Jenna nodded, still not looking up. “Yes.”Silence stretched.Chris exhaled slowly. “Damn it,” he muttered—not at her, but at the world. “I was hoping…”John tapped his cane once against the floor. “And the Salers?” he asked quietly. “Any indication they interfered?”Jenna hesitated—just enough.“I don’t know,” she said. “Everything… fell apart very fast.”Chris ran a hand through his hair. “Then we’ll adapt. We always do.”Jenna swallowed. “I failed you.”That did it.John pushed himself fully upright. “Look at me.”Jenna lifted

Men and women who controlled factories, fleets, and financial corridors took their seats, murmurs dying down as John raised his hand. “We have Galaxy’s backing,” he said simply. That single sentence sent a visible ripple through the room. Jenna stood. “I’ll brief you,” she said, activating the tablet. Data bloomed into the air—maps, flow charts, pressure points. “This is the Saler family’s operational footprint,” she continued. “What you’re seeing is confidence built on intimidation and leverage. We’re going to remove both.” A woman at the table frowned slightly. “Retaliation?” “Yes,” Jenna said. “And that’s intentional. Every favor they call in, every asset they mobilize—Galaxy will be watching. Recording. Measuring.” John nodded approvingly. “And when the Salers reach upward?” Jenna’s eyes hardened. “They’ll expose who truly stands behind them.” The room went quiet. Then one board member smiled. Another nodded. “All in,” someone said. “Good,” John replied. “Because Gala