Chapter 6

The spotlight was a physical weight, a blinding white column that cut through the darkness of the ballroom. I watched from the shadows as Marcus Chen yielded the stage to the CEO of Nebula Corp, a man whose silence commanded more respect than Archer’s shouting ever could. The room held its breath. The air tasted of ozone and expensive perfume—the scent of money about to change hands.

Archer was already standing. He buttoned his jacket with a sharp tug, preening like a peacock sensing rain. He turned to the crowd, offering a benevolent nod to faces that weren’t looking at…