e to be unsure about? Apologize to Ms. Short, immediately. You're making a spectacle." He clearly ha

Is that what you see, Greyson? Not a gross abuse of powe

fore. Even Imogen seemed to sense a change

f genuine alarm replacing his earlier irritation. He must have picked up on som

r hotel, watching you dismantle everything we supposedly stand for." My eyes flicked to the mayor's face, now

k about this later." His gaze, visible on the screen, darted nervou

en, who was now staring at me, a flicker of genuine confusion, perhaps even fear, in her eyes. "For what,

er, meant only for my ears, but carried by the speakerphone to everyo

carefully constructed calm. "You chose her, Greyson. You chose her manufac

initive period on a relationship that w

widened, but she didn't resist as I took it. I put the phone to

e clear and firm. "Our pact. Our enga

ths agape. Even Imogen was frozen, her sapphire eyes wide with shoc

er phone, but my own. The sleek, expensive one with a direct line to the top. My fi

my voice steady now,

gruff voice, "Ella? What's wrong? You

eteria: Eldon, Mr. Davies, the terrified kitchen staff, and finally, Imogen, who was now pale,

other end. "Ah. I see. So, t

ite out of our reputation, our integrity, and our bottom line. And the General

growled. It wa

nd then, with Greyson's full backing, demanded apologies from Eldon and me, the 'concierge trainee,' for standing up to her." I paused, letting t

randfather's voice, low and dangerous, "I'm sending a t

ess or compromised leadership." My voice was a steel rod, unbending. "Second, I want a full termination and severance agreement for Greyson Holden drawn up and delivered to him within the hour. Effective immediately." My gaze then settled on Eldon, who was watchin

randfather said, his voice lac

media team. A carefully worded press release, confirming Greyson Holden's immediate dismissal due to 'gross mismanagement

r," he replied. "It

image, now gone from the phone, still burned in my mind. He thought he co

as w

wide with a mixture of fear and dawning comprehension. He must have recognized my voice, heard enoug

of the room. I held up my personal phone, the one he knew belonge