ss conference. I cal

ngle podium. Reporters jostled for position, their lenses like hungry eyes. Victor Lang stood behind a sleek black lectern, smiling as

ubbornness couldn't fill. Damian's hand found the small hollow of my lower back as we walked in; the touch was brief but steady. We took our p

iled an

at GreenSphere Innovations and possible collusion between certain parties to manipulate market value and m

ons, emails. The headline was already being typed in reporters' heads. "We have filed complaints with Swiss regulators a

heater of it. I wanted to stand up and shout that his "evidence" was a h

ticed ease, his baritone even. "

ous." He flicked a hand toward the files. "You and Ms. Gra

d in like tongues. I could see my face on the screens - calm, ey

Investors whispering into phones. Live feeds sp

the world seemed to hold itself. Then the moderator

ese artfully deployed. But his answers weren't enough to stall the machin

ne else frame my life's work with innuendo, was not an opt

hing genuinely unexpected happens. Cameras swivelled. My heartbeat rat

ics built on selective leakage and malice." I let that sit. "GreenSphere has always operated within the law. Our filings are transparent

counter-narrative. Lang's lawyer b

in anticipation of Project Helios' roll-out. We engaged third-party auditors, clearances were requested and giv

. Someone shouted,

he team had worked through the night to compile a dossier. I stepped back from the mic and Damian handed me a sealed folder - the one we'd agreed would be our truth

orters who'd been primed for scandal now scribbled new notes, their posture changing from anticipation t

g has evidence beyond hearsay, file it with regulators. If not, he's manufacturing a crisis." He didn't shout. He di

as poison. I could feel it. But I didn't flinch. "We are aware of Marcus Hale's activities," I said. "We've initiated an intern

sible on a livestream - pale, too control

und the globe had seen both sides. In the flurry after the podium emptied, cameras soug

t. Damian's hand closed around my wrist and

sked, voice thin

moment, then softer. "You told the trut

shaking. "We still hav

e media scrum forming in the hall. "A

up my phone. "The feeds picked up