The morning sun cast harsh streaks of light across the Harrison Group's top floor. Inside, Finn stood by the window, unmoving, jaw clenched. His office had been cleaned since last night's outburst—glass swept, furniture straightened—but the air still vibrated with tension. The remnants of fury still lingered in the lines on Finn's face.
Victoria stepped in with a folder in hand, the click of her heels unusually soft. "Initial reports are in," she said carefully.
Finn didn't turn around. "And?"
"We reviewed the timeline. Evans Group submitted a revised proposal to Spencer Group less than two days before the press conference. It wasn't submitted through standard corporate channels."
His eyes narrowed. "So it was direct."
"Most likely," Victoria confirmed. "Our analysts believe the appro
