Riley's POV

The crystal chandelier above the dinner table seemed to pulse with each heartbeat, growing brighter and more menacing by the second. I pressed my hand against my chest, feeling my heart race like a trapped bird.

"Are you paying attention, Riley?" Brett's voice sounded distant.

I tried to focus on the conversation around the table, blinking hard to clear my vision. The words blurred together into meaningless noise. We were at another business dinner, this time at the penthouse, and ...