dless tasks. Anna barely had time to breathe, let alone think. Yet every mome

is gaze through the glass wall, the sound of his footsteps approach

rises wasn't just exhaus

away. Not when her father's

desk with her usual icy composure. "Mr.

e. "The b

l be taking notes. Don't speak unless spoken

striding down the hall. Heart pounding, Anna

-

e room in the sky. A long polished table stretched down the center, where a

d of the table

s enough to command the room. When his gaze finally swept a

at the far end, clutching

eting

about projections and profits. But the moment someone fal

tone wasn't raised, but the word sliced through the air like a whip. "

s face w

llenge Alexander's d

petence?" Alexander's voice was smooth, deadly calm. "Y

silent. No one

it firsthand was something else entirely. His control was absolute, his authori

ed, the executives scattered

ibbles, her chest tight. She had witnessed power i

-

e cut through her though

Slowly, she sank

eyes locking onto hers with unnerving

k... you don't give pe

arched. "And

quietly, surprising even herself. "Eventua

gaze didn't waver, sharp and calc

not afra

hitched. "I di

r, smooth and dangerous. "I can see it in y

her pen tighter, forcing her voice

ew darker, more intense. "No, Miss

kened, charged with somet

n't want blind loyalty. I want honesty. If you're brave enough to tell m

others. What did that even mean? How many before her had stood in this same room, caught bene

gh every instinct screamed at her to look away.

an equation only he could solve. "Then you'll join the countle

nger. Just the stark, terrifying truth

d her pen, knuckles white.

, and it was more dangerous t

the fear was something else, something far more unsettling. A pull she could

nder said finally,

or the release. She turned toward the door, h

for the handle, hi

Will

Slowly, she

ys. "In this company, there are two types of people-those who get consu

wed her out of the boardroom,

built on power, control, and shadows. A