Ava clenched her jaw, pacing back and forth in her chamber as her nails dug into her palms. Every step echoed against the marble floor, sharp and restless. Nothing was going as she intended.

Midas was supposed to handle everything discreetly. But now that fool had been detained, and everything was spiraling out of control.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to steady her breathing. She couldn’t afford to lose composure, not now. “That wretch…” she hissed under her breath, ...