Clarence hadn't slept.
He sat alone in the boardroom, tie loosened, fingers steepled beneath tired eyes. Through the glass walls, Meridian's skyline sparkled—indifferent to the empire unraveling beneath it.
Across the table, Jordan Mara clicked through social media metrics.
“Two million views in under 48 hours," he said. “Kaylee's video's gone international."
Clarence grunted. “And the board?"
“Split," Jordan replied. “Half say she's your redemption. The other half say she's a walking time bomb."
Clarence leaned back. “They're both right."
Jordan raised a brow. “Victoria's making calls again. She's pushing the narrative that you're unstable. That you're 'emotionally compromised.'"
“She's not wrong either," Clarence muttered.
“But she's scared," Jordan added. “Scared you're about t
