CHAPTER 2: THE CALL THAT SHOOK AN EMPIRE
Nothing happened.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Victoria smiled triumphantly.
"Pathetic."
Then—
The elevator doors opened again.
The rooftop froze.
Men in dark suits entered first.
Then attorneys.
Then board members.
Then senior executives.
The laughter disappeared instantly.
Victoria's smile faded.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
The group moved through the crowd with purpose.
Not toward Victoria.
Toward the woman.
Guests stepped aside.
Phones slowly lowered.
Even the music seemed quieter.
Victoria forced a nervous laugh.
"What is this?"
No one answered.
The chairman of Hale Global finally stepped forward.
One of the most powerful men in the country.
Victoria relaxed.
Until he walked right past her.
Her smile froze.
The chairman continued forward.
Past the executives.
Past the VIP guests.
Past everyone.
Until he stopped directly in front of the woman she had just humiliated.
The rooftop held its breath.
Then the chairman lowered his head.
Respectfully.
A collective gasp erupted across the crowd.
Victoria stared in disbelief.
"Sir... what are you doing?"
The chairman slowly turned.
His expression was ice cold.
"What should have happened years ago."
Victoria felt her stomach drop.
Something was collapsing.
May you like
She just didn't know what.
Yet.
