Noah hesitated. He was looking for Rebecca, scanning the room for any sign of her familiar silhouette. But she was nowhere to be seen, vanished into whatever corner of the mansion she was currently inspecting with that cold and methodical attention she brought to everything. He could wait for her to reappear, or he could accept Evelyn's offer and hope that Rebecca would find him when she needed to."Alright," he said. "Show me the interesting parts."***Meanwhile, Rebecca was doing what she did best. She had slipped away from Noah's side the moment they entered the mansion, her eyes already cataloguing the layout of the rooms and the positions of the exits and the faces of the security personnel stationed around the perimeter. She was wearing something elegant, a simple black dress that allowed her to blend in with the other guests without drawing attention to herself. But underneath it, she had a thin layer of tactical gear that did not restrict her movements in any way. She cou

Evelyn's jaw tightened at his callous words. Her fingers pressed into Noah's arm, and he could feel the tension radiating through her body. "Simon, you are being incredibly rude. This is neither the time nor the place for this kind of behavior. We are guests in this house.""I am not being rude. I'm just really curious, baby cousin. There is a significant difference between the two, though I understand if you have trouble distinguishing them." Simon turned back to Noah, his eyes glittering with malice. He looked Noah up and down, his gaze slow and deliberate, taking in the tailored suit and the polished shoes and the careful composure. "I have to admit, looking at you now, I can understand how you managed to climb so high so quickly. You have your looks going for you, I suppose. That must be useful. A handsome face and a tragic backstory. The perfect combination for convincing wealthy and influential women to take you under their wing."He ticked them off on his fingers, one by on

Noah stared at her, his lips still tingling from the pressure of her finger. "You used me as an excuse to settle an old score.""I prefer to think of it as killing two birds with one stone." She lowered her finger from his lips and smiled at him, a genuine smile that reached her eyes and softened the sharp lines of her face. "You got your ex-wife off your back, and I got to tell Simon exactly where he stands in the hierarchy. Everyone wins. Except them, of course. But I do not particularly care about them."Noah shook his head slowly, a reluctant smile tugging at the corner of his mouth despite his best efforts to suppress it. "You are terrifying. You know that, right?""So I have been told. I choose to take it as a compliment."***Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Rebecca was being thoroughly and enthusiastically glomped.Marie Collins had launched herself across the room the moment she confirmed that the woman standing in the doorway was indeed Rebecca. Her arms wrapped around Rebecca's

The dining room of the Lansing estate was a masterpiece of old-world elegance. The long table stretched nearly the entire length of the room, draped in a heavy white linen cloth that gleamed under the soft glow of the crystal chandeliers overhead. Fresh flowers arranged in low vases ran down the center of the table, their fragrance mingling with the rich scent of roasted meat and fresh bread that drifted in from the kitchen. The silverware was polished to a mirror shine, each piece reflecting the warm light in scattered sparks and the china was delicate and clearly hand-painted, a totem that had been passed down through generations and was worth more than most people's annual salaries.Victoria Lansing sat at the head of the table, her posture perfect, her blue dress a stark contrast to the warmth of the room. She looked like a queen presiding over her court, her silver hair swept up in an elegant arrangement, her eyes sharp and assessing as she watched the guests file in and take

Victoria folded her hands on the table and looked around at the assembled guests. "I can guess why Arthur is not here tonight. I spoke to him earlier this week and told him that I had changed my mind about the merger. I was initially supportive of the idea, as many of you know. But upon further reflection, and after reviewing the analysis provided by Ms. Dubois and her team, I have come to believe that the merger is not in the best interests of Nexus Group at this time."She paused, letting the words settle over the table. Simon's expression had gone very still. Nicole was staring at Victoria with an intensity that bordered on hostile."Tonight was supposed to be an opportunity for us to discuss this further," Victoria continued. "With Noah here, I had hoped we could find some common ground, some compromise that would satisfy everyone. But perhaps the way I presented my change of heart to Arthur struck a nerve. That was not my intention. I have the utmost respect for Arthur and for