The chandelier light of the Grand Marlowe ballroom dripped like molten gold, casting a glow over a sea of jewels, tuxedos, and whispers sharpened into blades. The shareholders’ gala was never just a celebration it was a battlefield dressed in champagne and silk.

Aurora arrived with Damien Leclerc at her side, and the room shifted instantly. Conversations paused, eyes followed. Rumors had already painted him as a ruthless strategist, a man who toppled rivals with a smile. Now, to see the ...