The ambient chatter in the ballroom gradually quieted as lights dimmed slightly, drawing attention to the stage at the front of the room.Victoria Matthews stepped forward, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she made her way to the podium. A spotlight illuminated her, and the remaining conversations died away completely.The banquet officially began."Good evening, everyone," Victoria said, her voice carrying clearly through the excellent sound system. "Thank you all for attending tonight's gathering. It's wonderful to see so many distinguished families and business leaders here."She paused, allowing her gaze to sweep across the crowd. "As many of you know, Apex Financial Group has recently come under new ownership. This transition marks an exciting new chapter for our company."Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Everyone leaned forward slightly, eager to hear what came next."The new owner of Apex Financial Group prefers to maintain privacy for now," Victoria continued

The banquet continued with its elegant formality. Waiters circulated with trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Conversations flowed throughout the ballroom, business deals being discussed in hushed tones over expensive wine.Declan had finally managed to extract himself from the crowd of business leaders who'd been pressing him with questions. He found a relatively quiet corner near one of the floor-to-ceiling windows, taking a moment to breathe and collect his thoughts."Declan."He turned to see Sophie approaching, her expression serious. She glanced around to ensure no one was within earshot, then moved closer."I need to talk to you," Sophie said quietly. "Privately."Declan nodded, and Sophie gently took his arm, guiding him even further away from the main crowd to a secluded alcove near the windows."What's wrong?" Declan asked.Sophie's expression was concerned. "I've been hearing rumors tonight. Several elite families are planning something."Declan's attention sharpened

"I'm going to do better than that," Declan said. "I'm going to turn his threat back on him. Can you have that information ready in the next half hour?"Victoria pulled out her phone immediately. "I can have it ready in twenty minutes. I'll make some calls.""Good," Declan said. "I'll handle Grayson."Victoria nodded and quickly moved away, already dialing numbers on her phone as she walked.Declan returned to the main area of the ballroom, accepting a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. He didn't drink it, using it as a prop while he waited and prepared for the next confrontation.Sophie found him again. "Did you talk to Victoria?""I did," Declan confirmed. "We have a plan."Sophie looked relieved. "Good. Because Grayson keeps checking his watch. He's clearly counting down the hour, probably hoping you'll come crawling back with acceptance of his terms."Declan smiled slightly. "He's going to be disappointed."Twenty-five minutes later, Victoria found Declan again. She handed

"What I want," Nathan said slowly, savoring the moment, "is for Apex Financial Group to partner exclusively with Vanguard Corporation for a major upcoming project."He paused for effect. "Cutting out all other competitors, of course. This would be an exclusive arrangement between our two companies.""And in exchange?" Declan asked calmly.Nathan's expression became magnanimous, as if he were offering a tremendous gift. "In exchange, Apex Financial Group will benefit from association with the Pierce family's prestigious reputation. The doors that will open for you, the connections you'll gain access to – it's invaluable."Sophie, still standing nearby, made a small sound of disbelief at Nathan's arrogance. But she said nothing, letting Declan handle this."What project are you referring to?" Declan asked, his tone still neutral, giving nothing away.Nathan's eyes gleamed. This was clearly the part he'd been eager to discuss."There's a massive urban development initiative about to be

Across the room, Carlos had been watching Nathan and Laura together, his hands clenching and unclenching rhythmically as he tried to maintain some semblance of composure.Every time Nathan touched Laura's waist, every time she laughed at something he said, every time they exchanged glances, it was like a knife twisting in Carlos's gut.He'd been standing in the same spot for nearly twenty minutes, barely moving, his eyes tracking them obsessively.Tom and Clarke stood on either side of their son, growing increasingly concerned about his deteriorating state. They kept trying to distract him, to redirect his attention to something – anything – else."Carlos, look," Clarke said, touching his arm gently. "That's Martin Comb from Comb Industries. We should introduce ourselves. He's very influential."Carlos didn't respond. His eyes remained locked on Nathan and Laura.Tom tried next. "Son, there's Rebecca Ashford over there. Her family controls significant real estate holdings. This would