XAVIER’s POV

Empire-hacking is not loud. It does not happen in boardrooms or headlines.

It happens in shadows, small betrayals, signatures on the wrong page, secrets whispered into the wrong ear.

and Henry Aldridge had been whispering far too long.

The next morning, I called Henry in. Private, no assistants, no excuses.

Just him and me in the glass-walled war room that overlooked the skyline.

He walked in briskly, all tailored suit and boardroom charm, as if the world hadn’t caught him ...