The heavy, humid air of the Mandarin Oriental Salon seemed to thicken as Mr. Liam adjusted his cuffs, his gaze cutting through the ambient noise of the gala like a scalpel. He paused, the silence stretching out until it became uncomfortable, before turning his head toward Victor.
"Victor," Mr. Liam said, his voice dropping into a register that commanded absolute attention. "Have you noticed any particular friction in your recent corporate acquisitions? Perhaps some logistical gridlock or a sudden, inexplicable dip in your venture capital returns?"
Victor blinked, his eyes widening in genuine shock. The man was a shark in the Port Haven underworld, a veteran of a thousand back-alley deals and high-stakes buyouts, yet he looked like a deer in headlights. "How... how did you know that, Mr.
