Three months. The world had not ended. The Volkov Group, under Nora’s steady hand and Sasha’s surprisingly astute guidance, had not only weathered the storm but emerged with a polished, more palatable public image. The “Demon” was a fading specter, replaced in the business pages by the “Iron Queen” and the “Prodigy Heir.” They were a success story. A testament to resilience.
It felt like a beautifully staged lie.
Nora stood at the head of the boardroom, concluding a merger that would have made Demetri proud in its cold efficiency. As the executives filed out, offering her respectful nods, her gaze fell on the empty chair at the opposite end of the table. His chair. It was a void that all their success could not fill.
Sasha entered, her posture more confident now, her clothing a sharp bl
