"Who sent the gift?"
The question hung in the air. All eyes focused on Malik, a single figure against a sea of power and pride. The silence in the ballroom was heavier than any chains.
Malik met their gazes, his posture unflinching. A single flicker of uncertainty would ruin everything. The cover must hold. The truth would only sound like a more outrageous lie.
He turned slowly, his eyes meeting Sarah's eyes. The rage and confusion in her gaze were a physical force. He finally spoke, his voice low but cutting clearly through the tension. "The gift was sent by an anonymous source."
A wave of murmurs erupted, threatening to drown all reason. Anonymous? In this den of tycoons, where every favor had a name and a price? That's impossible.
Janet moved first, a predator scenting weakness. "S
