The slap echoed before anyone could breathe. Viole’s palm was still in the air. Veronica’s face had barely moved. The entire conference room froze. Vordon stood up slowly. His chair scraped against the marble floor, sharp and controlled. “Have you lost your mind?” His voice was quiet, which made it worse. Viole’s fingers trembled. Pride forced her chin up. “She deserved it.” Veronica touched her cheek. It stung, but not as much as the humiliation from her past life. That pain had burned deeper. This? This was noise. She looked at Viole calmly. “For what? Outbidding you? Or existing?”
The words landed clean.
Viole’s breath hitched. “You humiliated me in front of everyone. You think money makes you powerful?”
“No,” Veronica replied softly. “Information does.”
Silence.
Vordon’s eyes shif
