nor

l like air. It felt like frost, filtered through polished chro

of my bag. Every breath I took felt borrowed, trapped in the back of my throat. I didn't belong h

the boardroom spread out like an arena. At the

al rent sweated through their silk collars, Arthur remained still. A statue carved from granite and absolute coldness. H

sudden crack echoed through the reinforced glass, making me flinch. "The market is volatile. You're liquidating entire subsidia

against my ribs like a trapped bird. I watched Arthur, waiting for a

ck in his leather chair. He folded his hands

the room with the force of a blade. "Is that what you call the rotting, debt-rid

a violent shade of cri

ack folder on the table, and slid it two inches forward. "Page four details the shell company registered in Grand Cayman u

hrank back, suddenly refusing to meet Spence's eyes

, only a terrifying, calculated void. He looked at Spence not with hatred, but with the

r value," Arthur said, his tone as casual as if he were ordering coffee. "If you r

You wouldn't... Your fat

d suddenly, crashing into the room's quietness like s

eat, his fingers trembling uncont

d my fate in his hands. This cold, unfeeling storm of a human being. I took a half-ste

ther step, the heavy boa

ence, avoiding Spence as if he were contagious. But as the last director disappeared

is gaze

gh the glass, holding me pinned in pl

ainst the floor. He stopped just inches away from me. Up close, his presence was overw

he said smoothly, his e

My voice betrayed me, c

I was forced back against the cool glass wall. He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a thin, si

mere inches from my ear. His breath was warm, contrasting viciously with the ice in his words. "He

ildly. "What are y

ld up the black envelope, unsealed it,

r's old studio, a place that had been locked since the day she was moved into the hospital's intensive

fingers reaching instinctively for the phot

eyes burning into mine with an emotion I couldn't decipher something twisted between hatred