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The silence in the room stretched thin, like a wire pulled to its breaking point. / Chapter 26 / 30

Chapter 26 - Expanding the EmpireWith the internal threats neutralized and the corporate restructuring fully realized, Vance Global embarked on its most ambitious infrastructure initiative yet: the trans-Pacific green energy grid.

The project required multi-billion-dollar negotiations with international governments, sustainable energy consortiums, and global banking syndicates. As Global CEO, I led the delegations across Tokyo, Singapore, London, and New York.

The days of playing the quiet, overlooked housewife were a lifetime away. Now, world leaders, billionaire investors, and senior corporate executives listened in absolute silence whenever I stepped up to the podium.

One afternoon, following a successful summit in Singapore, I stood on the observation deck of the Marina Bay financial center, looking out over the bustling shipping lanes where Vance cargo vessels sailed majestically across the horizon.

Marcus walked up beside me, handing me a fresh market brief. "The Singapore green energy bond offering was oversubscribed by four hundred percent. Wall Street is calling it the most successful infrastructure float of the decade."

"Wall Street calls it whatever generates the highest advertising revenue," I remarked, a faint smile playing on my lips. "What matters is that the foundation we poured is solid enough to outlast any storm."

"Speaking of storms," Marcus added, lowering his voice slightly. "Chloe—Julian’s former junior agent—tried to pitch herself to a mid-tier brokerage firm in downtown LA last week. Do you know what happened?"

I glanced at him. "Let me guess. They Googled her name, saw the corporate fraud association reports, and escorted her out of the building."

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The heavy mahogany door of the dressing room seemed to close in on us, trapping the suffocating tension inside. Richard’s hands were shaking as he clutched the small, tarnished silver pendant. His knuckles were bone-white.

The heavy mahogany door of the dressing room seemed to close in on us, t...

The heavy silver fork slipped from my fingers, clattering sharply against the gold-rimmed porcelain of my dinner plate.

The heavy silver fork slipped from my fingers, clattering sharply agains...

The heavy mahogany door of the Fairmont Copley suite clicked shut with a muffled, expensive thud.

The heavy mahogany door of the Fairmont Copley suite clicked shut with a...

"Worse," Marcus chuckled. "The managing partner recognized her from the viral news coverage of the Bel Air estate eviction and told her that her resume was worth about as much as a crumpled one-dollar bill."

I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped my lips. Karma had a poetic sense of humor, and she never missed a deadline.

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