CHAPTER 45 The boardroom smelled of polished wood and tension. The air was thick, heavy, almost metallic, as if it knew something was about to break. I stepped in behind Reign, heels soft against the floor, heart hammering. Every eye in the room seemed to land on me, on us, measuring, judging.Reign didn’t speak. He walked straight to his seat at the head of the table, hand brushing mine once under the armrest—a silent grounding touch. Ivy was already there, impossibly composed, as always, her smile sharp as a blade.“Maya,” she said sweetly. “Good morning.”“Good morning,” I replied, keeping my tone steady. Every word was a conscious effort. I refused to let fear show.She tilted her head. “I trust last night went… well?”I caught Reign’s jaw tighten beside me. He answered before I could. “That’s irrelevant.”Ivy’s eyes flicked to him, playful yet dangerous. “Of course. I was only curious. The board has questions, after all.”And then it began. Questions about my presence, my decisi
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