The silence in the ballroom was absolute, a stark contrast to the buzzing hubbub that had defined the evening only minutes before. Senator Mitchell stood at the podium, his face a mottled, uneven shade of red. He clutched the edges of the lectern so tightly his knuckles turned white, his political instincts screaming at him that he had badly misjudged the 'courier' in the cheap suit.
"You are a delusional fool," Mitchell sneered, attempting to regain his control. He signaled to his two private security guards, who began pushing through the crowd. "Your erratic behavior is an insult to this institution. Remove him."
"Wait," Kakek Edward’s voice cut through the room. It was shaky, but it carried the iron-clad authority of a man who had built an empire from nothing. He wheeled himself forwa
