The morning sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Nora’s corner office at the Croft Syndicate, casting long, golden geometric shadows across the pristine marble floor.

Nora sat behind her massive mahogany desk, a steaming cup of black coffee in one hand and a tablet in the other. The

"Call the vote, Harrison," Nora said quietly.

The sprawling mahogany table of the Croft Syndicate boardroom fell into a suffocating silence. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Manhattan skyline glittered with indifferent wealth, but inside, the air was thick with impending execution.

Harr

Julian crossed the VIP lounge with the predatory grace of a wolf cornering its prey. The few other wealthy travelers in the room instinctively shrank back, sensing the sheer, violent gravity radiating from the billionaire.

Nora stood frozen by her leather chair, her mind calculating a dozen differ