Chapter 3

The second I called him that, the hallway went quiet.

Alistair visibly stiffened.

Vespera spoke first.

“Since when do you have a brother?”

I ignored her.

Orion glanced at me.

“All done?”

“Yeah.”

The summit director beside us smiled.

“Ms. Vale’s presentation was excellent. The review panel was very impressed.”

Alistair finally stepped forward.

“You’re Orion from Solstice Holdings?”

“Yes.”

His tone changed immediately.

Polite.

Careful.

“Our company is also competing for this strategic partnership.”

Orion thought for a moment.

“Are you?”

Alistair’s expression tightened.

He had spent three months preparing for this bid.

Orion barely remembered it.

Vespera quickly…