The rain had transformed the afternoon into a dark, aquatic twilight by the time the private elevator doors hissed open into the penthouse. The air inside was freezing, the central cooling system working at maximum capacity to scrub any remaining trace of the sweltering heat wave from the minimalist glass pavilions. It felt entirely sterile, like a tomb constructed of polished concrete, white marble, and bulletproof glass.
Elena tore her arm away from Ethan’s grip the moment they crossed the threshold, her navy dress rustling sharply against the quiet of the room. Her chest was heaving, her hazel eyes wide with a mix of fury and absolute panic as she spun around to face him.
"A draft simulation? Is that the best your multi-million-dollar legal team could come up with in the elevator?" sh
