The first rays of dawn slipped through the wide glass panels of the Sekwiga residence, spilling golden light across marble floors and quiet, expensive silence.The house smelled faintly of cinnamon and black coffee, Derick’s morning ritual.He moved through the kitchen with the ease of habit, every gesture calm and deliberate, like someone who had long since learned to find peace in routine.Petrina’s voice drifted faintly from the upstairs hallway, sharp and hurried, half swallowed by the clack of heels against marble.“Derick! Did you iron my navy suit or the gray one?”Derick smiled faintly to himself as he stirred his coffee.“The navy. You said you had that investor breakfast.”A pause.Then her voice again, less sharp now, just distracted.“Right. Thanks.”He placed two plates on the breakfast table, scrambled eggs, toast, and a little fruit.She’d probably only touch the coffee, but he kept doing it anyway.Seven years of marriage had turned his quiet gestures into habit.Maybe

The Reed Innovations Gala was the kind of event people dressed to impress for. Flashing lights. Champagne glasses. Cameras catching every smile.Derick stayed close but not too close.He’d learned that was safer.He moved through the crowd quietly.He never liked these events; they belonged to Petrina.So tonight, as always, he just wanted to be beside her, proud and invisible.He didn’t mind. He’d told himself this was her moment.She stood near the entrance greeting guests, laughing with Brian Stone.Their closeness made something inside him tick, but he said nothing.He would rather be silent and keep the peace.When Petrina finally turned and saw him, her smile thinned. “You came,” she said.“I promised I would,” he replied.From the balcony above the main hall, the city shimmered behind glass.A jazz band played. Waiters floated past with trays of wine.“Mr. Sekwiga, can I get a photo of you and Mrs. Sekwiga?” a reporter asked.Petrina turned to the reporter, smile fading for hal

By Tuesday morning the air inside Reed Innovations already felt wrong.Phones were ringing more than usual, and every voice sounded a little too careful.Petrina stepped out of the elevator clutching her tablet.“Good morning,” she called.No one answered. Her assistant only gave a thin smile before vanishing down the hall.She walked into the conference room where Charlotte was pacing between chairs. “What’s going on?”Charlotte looked up.“One of our partner banks froze a credit line overnight. They said it’s ‘temporary’ while they re-evaluate risk exposure.”“Risk exposure to what?” Petrina’s eyes narrowed.Charlotte shook her head. “They didn’t say. I’ve been calling since six a.m.”Petrina exhaled sharply. “We just renewed that facility last quarter. They can’t—”“They did,” Charlotte said. “And two suppliers are holding shipments until payment clears. If this keeps up, we’ll miss the Dankey contract delivery.”“What payment? We’ve never paid for any additional thing!”Charlotte

The building of Titian Holdings stretched high above the city of New York, casting a shadow on other business enterprises and buildings, as if boosting its superiority.The building looked like power carved into stone, quiet, exact, and untouchable.Derick walked through the private corridor toward his office, jacket over one arm, tie loosened.From the elevator to his floor, everyone who crossed him moved aside chanting a series of good morning’s and good day’s.When he stepped inside, Lily was already there. She stood near the panoramic window, tablet in hand, her expression unreadable.“The reports from the assignment I gave you Lily,” he said simply.She handed the tablet over. “Reed Innovations closed yesterday at a thirty-two percent drop. Four minor partners have suspended contracts. The banks that froze their lines aren’t answering calls.”Derick scrolled. “And their internal morale?”“Low. Staff leaving. Investors circling like vultures. They’re down to two days of liquid cas

“You thief!”Brian’s voice cracked through the polished air like shattering glass.Every single conversation that was ongoing stopped.Dozens of heads turned; cameras that had been idling for celebrity shots swung toward the commotion.Derick didn’t flinch.He stood where he was, one hand still in his pocket, Lily beside him like a quiet shadow.Brian’s shoes clicked sharply across the marble as he closed the distance.“You thought you could come here, after you stole from Reed? and hide behind whatever this new scheme is?” His voice was the perfect tone for the microphones already picking up whispers.People began to murmur.Someone near the staircase said softly, “Isn’t that Sekwiga the leech of a son-in-law? The one who got divorced?”Another voice answered, “What’s he even doing here? This conference is for power players.”“The nerve he has” some began laughing.Derick’s gaze stayed level, the faintest trace of boredom in his eyes.Petrina finally moved forward a step.Her silver