Ethan smiled, satisfied.
“Good. At least you know your place.”
Vanessa clapped lightly.
“Well, that was almost dramatic.”
Emily didn’t respond. She stood, picked up her bag—
And then a chair scraped behind them.
Everyone turned.
The man in the charcoal suit rose.
Calm. Commanding. Unshakable.
The lawyer recognized him first.
“Mr… Reed?”
Vanessa frowned.
Ethan blinked. “Who are you?”
The man stepped forward, stopping just behind Emily. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Are you finished, sweetheart?”
The word echoed through the room.
Ethan froze.
Vanessa dropped her phone.
Emily nodded.
“Yes, Dad.”
Silence.
The name hit.
Alexander Reed.
Owner of the building. Head of Reed Financial. A man powerful enough to make or break entire companies.
Ethan’s face drained of color.
“Wait… what?”
Alexander picked up the signed papers, flipping through them calmly before looking at Ethan.
“So you’re the man who believed my daughter was nothing.”
Ethan tried to recover.
“With all due respect, this is private.”
Alexander gave a faint smile.
