The crystal chandeliers of the Grand River Ballroom cast a bright glow over the floor. Evelyn hosted this celebration gala for her entire staff to mark Sterling Enterprises' full recovery. The company stood stronger than ever. We had cleared River City of corrupt politicians, street gangs, and corporate traitors aligned with Julian Hayes. The city belonged to Sterling now.I stood two paces behind Evelyn's chair, dressed in my simple dark suit. My eyes swept the perimeter continuously. Old habits die hard, even when you hold absolute control over the entire local landscape."You can take a break, you know," Evelyn said, leaning back slightly and taking a sip of sparkling water. A soft smile touched her lips. "We won, Lucas. Every single one of Julian's dirty political contacts is behind bars. The local gangs vanished overnight. You don't have to scan the room like an assassin is hiding behind the ice sculpture.""Habit, Boss," I replied with a quiet grin. "Besides, keeping watch is wh

The mahogany boardroom table inside Sterling Tower smelled of lemon oil and corporate greed. Rain tapped against the floor-to-ceiling glass, but the air inside was completely dry.I stood two paces behind Evelyn's leather chair, wearing my usual dark suit. Simple, quiet, invisible. That was the whole point of my cover. Nobody pays attention to a low-level bodyguard when billions of dollars sit on the table.Evelyn's two uncles sat across from us. Uncle Richard leaned back with his hands folded over his round stomach, looking like a cat that just swallowed a canary. Beside him, Uncle Thomas kept checking his gold watch. They were supposed to be family. Instead, they were vultures waiting for a carcass."You are out of your depth, Evelyn," Richard said, waving a thick finger through the air. "The market has shifted. River City needs strong leadership, not a girl playing CEO."Evelyn didn't flinch. Her hands rested flat on her leather folder, perfectly still. "The company posted a thirty

I accompany Evelyn to the regional family summit, keeping my low-profile bodyguard routine intact while her arrogant relatives prepare a corporate trap. The chapter ends at the entrance security checkpoint where several oversized bodyguards try to physically bully me out of the way.The regional family summit took place at the Grand Regency Hotel, a towering glass monument in the provincial capital. The parking lot looked like an exotic car dealership. Millions of dollars in European steel sat gleaming in the sun, reflecting the immense wealth of the extended Sterling clan.I stepped out of the driver's side of our sleek black sedan, smoothing down the front of my plain charcoal suit. I circled around to open the rear passenger door for Evelyn. She stepped out onto the marble pavement, wearing an immaculate white tailored suit that screamed executive power. Her face was an unreadable mask of cold composure, but I noticed the slight tension in her jaw."Are you ready for this?" I asked

So, the mahogany table in the main conference room was wide enough to park a truck on. I stood two paces behind Evelyn's leather high-back chair, keeping my hands resting lightly behind my back. Standard bodyguard stance. Straight spine, relaxed shoulders, eyes fixed on the entry doors.Evelyn sat perfectly erect in her tailored gray suit. She looked composed, but I noticed the tight grip she had on her fountain pen. Her knuckles showed white against the dark barrel. I wanted to tell her to relax. The wolves across the table were noisy, sure, but their teeth were completely dull.Uncle Thomas cleared his throat with a loud, theatrical cough. He was a portly man with a thinning mustache and a habit of wiping his forehead every thirty seconds. Beside him sat Uncle Richard, who always looked like he had just swallowed something sour."Evelyn, my dear," Thomas began, his voice dripping with fake sympathy. "We take no pleasure in this. Truly, we don't. But the Sterling Group cannot survive

The morning light cut through the floor-to-ceiling glass of the main Sterling office floor, illuminating every speck of dust on the polished marble. It also illuminated my two new janitors.Albert and Thomas Sterling, Evelyn’s greedy uncles, stood near the breakroom holding yellow plastic buckets and mop handles. Their tailored three-piece suits were gone. Instead, they wore stiff navy jumpsuits with yellow "Sterling Facilities" patches ironed onto the chests.Security guards stood five paces back, arms crossed, keeping a watchful eye on every move they made."This is an outrage," Albert muttered, wringing his mop with trembling hands. "I am a major shareholder! I built half these regional accounts! You can't force me to scrub floors like a servant!"He tried to glare at a passing junior analyst who was carrying a stack of files."Hey! You!" Albert barked, stepping into the hallway. "Get me a bottle of mineral water from the executive lounge! Right now!"The young analyst didn't even