POV: Michael
I got the call before the board meeting started.
It wasn’t from my team. It wasn’t even from someone inside M&M company. It came from a junior analyst in London—a former intern who’d worked under me three years ago and still carried enough loyalty to pick up a rumor before the fire.
“Sir,” the voice said, low and fast, “Valesca signed with Imperial. As of this morning. I thought you should know.”
I sat back in my office chair, the world going soundless for a beat.
I didn’t speak.
Didn’t blink.
I just ended the call.
And opened the news.
There it was.
EMERALD HUGO ACQUIRES VALESCA IN SILENT STRIKE M&M COMPANY LOSES COVETED PARTNER AFTER SIX-MONTH BID
I scrolled through the report, pulse drumming. The language was merciless:
“While Michael Michaelson battled legal c
