At eight fifty-nine AM, twelfth floor of Sinclair Bank smelled like oak, coffee, and money about to change hands.Twelve Sinclair directors sat on my side of glass table, tablets dark. Opposite, twelve Blackwood directors fidgeted, collars tight, watching red tickers crawl behind them. At head, one empty chair waited. Not for Elias. For me.At nine sharp, private elevator chimed.Damian Blackwood entered first.Suit flawless, charcoal, pressed, but face betrayed him — sleepless, jaw tight, eyes rimmed red. Behind him, CFO clutched black case holding fifty million collateral, counsel carried apologies disguised as legal memos, chairman carried panic behind practiced smile.He stopped when he saw me.I wore ivory power suit, hair severe knot, no necklace, only diamond tennis bracelet back on my own wrist. Grandfather's gift, reclaimed from Chloe. I looked nothing like woman who cooked garlic potatoes in pale blue dress. I looked like Chairwoman Sinclair, who owned his bank."Miss Sincla
Last Updated : 2026-09-24 Read more