Emma's throat closed.The guards waited, expressions professionally neutral, but their posture screamed authority. Behind them, the crowd pressed closer, phones already raised to capture whatever humiliation was about to unfold.Emma recognized faces in the mass—former clients who'd dropped her the moment bankruptcy hit, investors who'd deleted her emails, competitors who'd probably celebrated her downfall over champagne. They were all watching now, waiting to see her dragged out like the charity case Lillian claimed she was.She tugged at Blake's sleeve, whispered urgently. "Blake, we should just go. Please."Blake didn't move. Didn't even glance at her.The lead guard cleared his throat. "Sir, your pass?""I don't have one," Blake said calmly.The lobby erupted.Laughter rolled through the crowd like a wave breaking against shore. Someone whistled. Someone else called out something Emma couldn't quite hear but that made others laugh harder.The guard blinked, clearly not expecting s