Emily’s Unexpected Defense The atmosphere in the grand conference hall was electric, charged with tension and whispered speculation. Industry leaders, executives, and media personalities had gathered for a high-profile business summit, a stage where power plays unfolded under the polished veneer of civility. Leon Gray, the man who had quietly but decisively shaken the foundations of the corporate world, was at the center of the storm once again.Emily adjusted her dress nervously, feeling the weight of countless eyes on her. She was here because of Leon, by his insistence, though the thought made her stomach twist. She had never been comfortable in such environments — the subtle games of influence, the veiled barbs disguised as polite conversation, the constant scrutiny. Every glance, every whisper seemed loaded with judgment, curiosity, or disdain.As Leon stood near the stage, calm and collected, Emily noticed the sharp eyes of a rival CEO cutting toward him like daggers. Marc