Sylvia's wrists ached from the zip ties as she was dragged into the lavish estate. The opulence was staggering—polished marble floors, grand chandeliers, and walls lined with priceless artwork. Yet the grandeur didn't comfort her. It only made her more uneasy.
This wasn't just wealth. This was power. The kind of power that could crush her without a second thought.
The two men flanking her shoved her forward, and she stumbled into a sprawling study. It was a cavernous room, the air thick with the scent of leather and cigars.
And there he was.
Evans Alberto sat behind a massive desk, his tailored suit fitting him like a second skin. He looked up from the documents in his hands, his gray eyes cold and discerning.
"Leave us," he said, his voice smooth but commanding.
The guards hesitated
