nor

air between us, heavy and suffused w

my back flat against the cold glass panelin

ned his dark silk tie, his demeanor instantly shifting back to the pristine, untouchable CEO who had just destroyed a man's life with

ward the double doors of his private office. "Follow me. Or leave, and let the

ht in my throat. With no alternative left, I forced my trembling legs

s offered a terrifying, sweeping view of the city skyline below. Arthur crossed the dark

courtesy. He simply opened a leather-bound folio, picked u

he commanded wit

ure to keep myself from shaking violently. "If you want me to sign

lifted his head. His pale grey eyes were completely devoid of warmth, analyzin

f your own shadow, clutching a worn leather bag like it's a shield, wearing distress l

ing to keep my voice steady despite the adrenal

ner of his lips, a shadow of a smile that

endents like your father siphon millions out of our research division under the guise of 'friendship' and

by a flash of fiery indignation. "He built the foundation

slamming the folio shut with a sudden, sh

hum. "When the clinical trials failed, he used your mother's studio and her family trust as secondary leverage. He signed a covenant stating that if th

, the room spinning around me.

t stamped with red wax. He slid it across the desk towards me. "But this isn't a standard corporate debt. This is an a

ure sat at the bottom of every page. Beside it was the red seal from the photogra

is armor, a flicker of doubt, anything. "Why go through all this trouble

chillingly absolute. "The key your mother hid inside that studio before she lost her

desk, his shadow stretching acro

aid softly. "As of today, you are employed directly under my personal office. You will report here at six every morning. You will carry out

ngle, long finge

ooking back down at his paperwork. "You have five minutes to review the schedule o