As Ace Kane exited Cathy Black's office, he found himself face-to-face with an unexpected figure. Emily Sunford, stood there, her expression a mixture of acute embarrassment and profound distress. Ace's mind, ever sharp, quickly did the math. Hadn't the timeline for her release from detention not quite elapsed yet? How was Emily out? The sight of her, clearly uncomfortable and caught in a web of personal turmoil, instantly soured Ace's mood. The brief lightness he had felt after his corporate victories evaporated, replaced by a familiar sense of exasperation.
"Ace," she began, her voice a fragile whisper, her gaze downcast, "I..." She trailed off, unable to articulate the complex emotions churning within her.
Not wanting to create a spectacle for the curious eyes of his employees, who we
