Ethan Blake sat in his office long after everyone had gone home. His fingers drummed once on the desk, the sound sharp in the silence.He had replayed the Titan Global statement a dozen times already, but it wasn’t just the words that bothered him, it was the tone.It was cold, calculated and far too confident for a company that was supposedly doing “damage control.”No one denied him this cleanly before and no one ignored him like he didn’t exist.He leaned forward, opening a secure folder on his laptop. Dozens of files popped up, there were surveillance captures, internal memos, and leaked employee rosters. He’d pulled every resource he had left in the last 48 hours. The deeper he dug, the stranger it got.Titan Global’s board had nothing on record about the Harper deal. There were no meeting minutes, no official signatures and the authorization came through a locked executive channel accessible only to one person, the president himself.And that man, that shadowy figure from the ph

The Harper mansion was always about who could pretend the most. Tonight, though, it was pure chaos.Margaret’s voice echoed down the hall, sharp and flustered. “What do you mean the chef canceled? He can’t just cancel! They’re already on their way!”The staff ran around like headless chickens, phones in hand, whispering into their earpieces as if an army invasion was happening in the kitchen. Emma, standing near the doorway, pinched the bridge of her nose. She’d told her mother this dinner was a bad idea, a last-minute “thank-you event” for business associates that Harper Construction barely even liked.“It’s fine, Grandmother,” Emma said, trying to stay calm. “We can just order in and—”“Order in?” Margaret snapped. “Are you out of your mind? These people are our clients, Emma. You think I’ll serve takeout to investors? We’ll look like peasants!”Peasants.Emma’s jaw tightened. A few feet away, Liam was setting down a tray of drinks, quiet, and almost invisible as usual but his calm

Ethan Blake adjusted his cufflinks as he stood in front of Titan Global’s tall building. He took a deep breath, straightened his shoulders, and strode toward the revolving doors with a confidence that hid the feeling of unease in his chest. Today, he intended to find answers. And if he had to press, intimidate, or charm his way through, he would.Inside, the lobby was elegant, with shiny tiles, classy decors and quiet conversations. Several executives in tailored suits moved around quickly but quietly, each step calculated, and precise. Ethan’s eyes scanned the crowd, looking for any hint, or any thread, that could lead him to the person who had orchestrated the Harper Construction contract.He approached the front desk, flashing a smile that was meant to charm his way through. “Ethan Blake,” he said smoothly. “I have an urgent matter regarding the Titan Global partnership. I need to speak to the person in charge.”The receptionist raised a perfectly carved eyebrow. “Mr. Blake,” she s

“Emma, this just came in.” Mia stood at the door holding a thick white envelope stamped with a gold seal. Emma looked up from her laptop, frowning slightly.“What is it?”“An invitation,” Mia said. “From the Aurelius Foundation. It says it’s a private gala next week. Titan Global is listed as one of the sponsors.”Emma took the envelope and opened it carefully. The card inside was sleek, black and gold, with her name printed in elegant letters.Emma Harper, Harper Construction.She blinked. “It’s addressed to me,” she said, sounding surprised even to herself.Mia nodded. “Yes, ma’am. It looks very exclusive. Only a handful of local CEOs got one.”Emma stared at the card for a few seconds longer, trying to read between the lines. Titan Global, again. Everything in her life seemed to circle back to that name lately.“Thank you, Mia. You can go.”When the door closed, she leaned back in her chair, tapping the edge of the card against her desk.A gala. A public, high-profile, and media-c

Emma made her way toward them, but before she reached them, Nina gave a polite nod and walked off quickly, disappearing into the crowd.Liam turned just as Emma approached.“What was that?” she asked quietly, though curiosity ate at her.“Nothing important,” he said casually, waving her off.“Liam.”He looked at her then, and for a brief second, something flickered in his eyes, something like regret, then he added. “She just wanted to say congratulations.”Emma frowned. “It didn’t look like that.”He didn’t reply. Instead, he glanced toward the exit. “We should go soon. You’ve had enough of the cameras for one night.”She wanted to push, to demand an explanation, but something in his tone stopped her.“Fine,” she said finally.They left the ballroom together, the noise and chaos fading behind them. The hallway was quiet, only the sound of heels against the floor and the distant sound of conversation from the other rooms.As they reached the car, Emma finally spoke again. “You keep say