The fallout over the next forty-eight hours was brutally swift.

Chloe Sterling, despite having no formal title at the Croft Syndicate anymore, still wielded the vicious, polished weaponry of high society. She weaponized her country club whispers, her board member connections, and the leaked docume

The Laurent Gallery’s grand auction hall was a sea of velvet, crystal, and predatory wealth. Under the warm glow of the tiered chandeliers, the city’s elite mingled, sipping vintage champagne while eyeing the multi-million dollar assets that would soon cross the block.

Nora Vance stood near the ba

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