Crystal chandeliers scatter prisms of light across Titan Corp's grand atrium. Velvet-draped tables ring the marble floor, each place setting crowned with a flickering holographic rose. Guests in tuxedos and evening gowns—investors, board members, and city dignitaries—murmur over champagne flutes.
Elara Quinn stands at Lucien Blake's side behind the raised dais, her black tuxedo tailored to conceal her binding yet accentuate her height. She inhales sharply as a waiter drifts by, tray balanced: “Champagne, sir?" The whisper of silk against skin reminds her of every small calculation that brought her here.
A soft chime from her implant interrupts the polite chatter:
> **Threat Level 88% – Protect target at all costs.**
> **Love Score +50 – Take a bullet for Lucien Blake.**
Her puls
