Sebastian’s POV
It’s Wednesday, 9:12 a.m., and the boardroom is a pressure cooker on the verge of detonation. The air is thick with anticipation, expensive cologne, and the low, predatory hum of whispered bets being placed under the table like side wagers in a high-stakes poker game. Everyone is waiting for the pitch by Lena and Sienna. I sit at the head of the polished mahogany table, hands steepled, the weight of every calculating gaze pressing against my skull like a vise grip. I know exactly what they’re thinking: This is the moment Lancaster’s golden boy either proves his genius or eats crow in front of the entire empire. Some are waiting for things to not go well, salivating at the chance to say my idea of forcing Lena and Sienna to work together is a disaster.
“Pairing a rookie wi
