Darla had arrived. The vice president of the branch was a woman known as much for her ruthlessness as for her efficiency. She had been with Rowan since the early years, helping him carve out ME Group’s empire abroad. Her suits were always tailored, her hair immaculate, her expression a permanent mask of severity. Few dared to breathe the wrong way around her.
The moment the elevator doors slid open again, her gaze fell on the cluster of executives, and then on Liora.
“What is this?” Darla’s voice rang out, cold and clipped. “Why are you gathered here, stammering like children?”
One of the executives, the silver-haired man who had been most shaken, cleared his throat nervously. “Vice President Darla, there was an issue with Mr. Smith’s translator. Miss Liora happened to—”
“Hap
