Nikolai's heart sank as realization dawned on him. Alex had heard everything. The private conversation—if one could call Lucas's merciless berating that—had somehow reached her ears. Lucas's demands for progress, his accusations of failure, everything. And now, Liam Smith stood before him, methodically removing his tailored jacket and rolling up his sleeves with deliberate precision.
The look in Liam's eyes made Nikolai's stomach twist. It wasn't just anger—it was the cold, calculating rage of a father who believed his child had been wronged. Nikolai had seen that look before, but never directed at him.
"I'm not going to fight you," Nikolai said, his voice steadier than he felt. His mind raced through possibilities, searching for words that might defuse the situation.
Liam's mouth curve
