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

"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