“You requested to see me?" Jiang Ci stepped into the boardroom, laptop in hand.
Huo Yuchen stood at the head of the table, sleeves rolled to the elbows, an untouched espresso cooling beside his tablet.
“No assistants. No aides," he said.
She raised a brow. “Intimidation strategy?"
He didn't smile. Instead, he slid a thin dossier toward her.
She opened it. Tabloid clippings. The hotel scandal. Blurred images of a youth led into a hotel, headlines screaming:
**“Extortion Scheme?"**
**“Heir's Reputation at Risk!"**
Her fingers twitched.
“I thought we were past recycled smears," she said quietly.
“Huanyu isn't," he replied. “Our PR team flagged your name. You walked in with ghosts, Jiang Ci. This is me giving you a chance to explain—before the board asks why I hired an extortionist."
