Adrian didn’t sleep that night. The photograph burned into his mind every time he closed his eyes. Elena. Standing in front of Carter Holdings like she didn’t just belong there—but like she owned it. Which, impossibly, was beginning to look like the truth.
At 6:12 a.m., he was already in his office. The building was unusually quiet. Too quiet. Even the usual morning chatter felt muted, as if the entire place was holding its breath.
Something was wrong and he could feel it.
“Sir,” his assistant said cautiously as she stepped in. “There’s a scheduled executive meeting this morning.”
“I didn’t schedule any meeting,” Adrian replied immediately.
She hesitated. “It was sent under board authority.”
That name again. The board.
Adrian stood slowly. “Cancel it.”
“I… can’t, sir.”
He turned s
