“You weren’t supposed to survive the crash either.”
The words sink into the lobby like poison.
For a moment, no one moves.
The security guards remain frozen near the doors. Margaret stands in the center of the marble floor, her shoulders straight, her expression no longer apologetic. Whatever mask she used to wear for Adrian—it’s gone now.
Adrian’s voice is dangerously quiet. “Explain.”
Margaret exhales slowly, as if she has finally decided something.
“Three years ago, Reyes Holdings was about to become untouchable.”
“You negotiated that merger,” Adrian says.
“Yes.”
“With Aldrin.”
“Yes.”
“And Valez Urban Development was about to lose half the city contracts tied to it.”
Her eyes flicker. “That’s correct.”
“So you sold me out.”
“No,” she says calmly. “I sold the outcome.”
The
