Chapter 2: Four Words He Was Never Supposed to Hear
"Eleanor," I said quietly, "please send the board resolution to Chairman Lang's phone.
Right now."
"Already done, Mrs.
Mercer."
I hung up.
Across the room, Chairman Lang's phone lit up.
He read the screen once.
Then he read it again.
The color left his face entirely.
Daniel was still laughing, one arm around Vanessa, accepting congratulations from men who had no idea what was happening behind them.
Lang crossed the ballroom in twelve seconds.
I counted.
"Mr.
Mercer." His voice was low and controlled.
"A word.
Privately."
Daniel waved him off.
"Robert, relax.
The night is young."
"It is not a request."
Something in Lang's tone made the nearest guests step back.
Daniel finally turned.
He looked at Lang.
Then at me.
Then at the phone still in Lang's hand.
His smile didn't disappear all at once.
It dissolved.
"What is this?" he said.
Lang leaned close and said four words I could hear perfectly from where I stood.
Daniel's champagne glass slipped from his fingers.
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
"Daniel?
What's wrong?"
He didn't answer her.
He was staring at me like he was seeing me for the first time.
---
What those four words were — and what Claire does next — is only the beginning.
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