The mahogany-paneled conference room of Diane Black & Associates smelled of lemon polish and expensive leather. It was a room designed for intimidation, perched high on the forty-second floor, offering a sweeping view of the city’s skyline. For the first time in seven years, Clara Vance sat in a cha

The towering glass facade of Sterling Architecture stood as a direct rival to Vance Development. While Julian’s company focused on flashy, aggressive skyscrapers, Sterling was known for meticulous, structural perfection. They were the second largest firm in the city, and Clara fully intended to make

The boardroom of Vance Development was a war zone.

Julian stood at the head of the long glass table, sweating profusely as a dozen enraged board members shouted at him simultaneously. The large monitors on the wall displayed a horrifying, plunging red line—the company’s stock price, which had been