The first thing I noticed when we stepped into the ballroom was that everyone already knew who Adrian Vale was.
Not in the obvious way. Nobody shouted his name or rushed toward him like some celebrity. These people were too polished for that. Too trained. Too proud.
But conversations slowed. Heads turned. Eyes followed.
Because Adrian Vale did not need introductions.
He was the CEO of Vale Global Holdings, a company whose name was attached to hotels, property developments, private investments, and enough wealth to make governments polite. The financial press called him ruthless, brilliant, untouchable.
And tonight, every person in the room had noticed he had arrived with me.
My heels clicked against the marble floor as I kept pace beside him, trying to ignore the nerves tightening in
