The boardroom of Eastbridge Investments was nothing like the Veyra offices Aurora had grown up around. It was colder, sharpen—designed not for comfort but for power.

Elias Monroe sat at the head of the table, his fingers steepled. Beside him were stacks of documents, news clippings, and dossiers.

Aurora studied him carefully. She wasn’t sure if she trusted him, but she knew she needed him.

“Lesson one,” Elias began, his tone clipped. “Business wars are never fought in the open. ...