The next day, the boardroom was already full when Ezra arrived.
He entered late—not by choice, but because Roman had deliberately blocked him at the elevator, engaging him in a low, pointed conversation that felt less like words and more like a warning. Roman had smiled too easily, his hand resting casually in his pocket, his eyes calculating every second Ezra lost.
By the time Ezra stepped into the room, conversation paused.
Not stopped—paused.
The kind of pause that lingered just long enough to be noticed.
Several board members glanced up, surprised by his lateness. Ezra didn’t apologize. He simply took his seat, jaw tight, shoulders squared, eyes briefly lifting—
And finding Liana.
She sat at the head of the table.
Calm. Composed. Untouchable.
Their eyes met for half a second.
