Dominic Sterling had lost Whitmore.
The realization settled over the Sterling Global boardroom like smoke after an explosion.
Heavy.
Impossible to ignore.
Nobody spoke immediately after the call disconnected.
The massive projection screen still displayed the Whitmore Industries insignia against a dark background while executives sat frozen around the conference table pretending not to look directly at Dominic Sterling.
Because everyone in the room understood what had just happened.
Whitmore hadn’t negotiated.
Hadn’t argued.
Hadn’t even entertained discussion.
They had simply left.
One senior executive finally cleared his throat carefully.
“Perhaps we can still recover portions of the European sector if we move quickly—”
The crystal glass in Dominic’s hand shattered violently a
