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across the plush carpet. I stood with my back to the heavy agarwood double doors of Meeting Room One, wearing a sharp

cal struggle echoed in the reception area. Graham was used to using absolute power to

ham kicked the heavy agarwood doors open with

ned around. The thick carpet a

ain-warped, blood-stained Code of Conduct folder onto the polished wood. He leaned over the table, his weight resting on his hands

not waste my breath arguing. I simply reached out and

ional equity structure chart floated in the air between us. The Rios family logo, which used to dominat

stared at the data panel in absolute disbelief. The muscles in his ne

aid, my voice flat and completely devoid of warmth. "He is now the

up. He adjusted his expensive diamond cufflinks with a lazy, victorious smile. He walked up to the

. To a politician of his caliber, this was the u

ntain pen resting on the leather blotter. I leaned forward slightly to sign

red sleeve of my white suit jacke

ut his eyes suddenly darted downward.

eceipt of my trauma. Three years ago, to save the tiny life growing inside me, I had endured a brutal C-section in a filthy under

ld see the gears in his head spinning out of control, violently searching h

the table, his hand reaching out with desperate, manic en

cup, creating a solid physical barrier that blocked Graham's hand. The sudden collision caused the hot

to the tightest notch. I looked up. For a fraction of a second, pure, unadulterated murder flashed in my eyes. I wanted to rip hi

stumbled back a step. His voice was cracked and hoarse, scraping a

scratch from a car accident," I said smoothly. I used the exact lie that fit

building security guards flooded into the

e. He stared directly into my eyes, frantically searching for a trem

m anymore. His body went limp, but his eyes remained glued to my covered wrist. The see

allway. The heavy doors shut,