He walked into the conference room expecting the usual chaos. But she was already there. Sitting at the far end, calm, collected. Dressed like she was headed to a party—red. Bright, bold. Completely out of place among the suits.

She didn’t stand. Didn’t speak. Just watched him. That alone set his teeth on edge. Ashley was stiff by the door, eyes darting everywhere but at her.

One of the executives finally broke the silence. “She’s a contingency.”

Contingency. The word hit like a slap.

He laughed quietly, bitter. “Vought’s idea of a safety net. Against me.”

He stepped forward, slow. Closer. Her eyes met his. No fear. No awe. Just cold, unreadable calm.

That was the worst part. No one looked at him like that. No one but her.

He smiled, sharp and tight. “Cute.”

She didn’t blink.

He wanted to break her. To see if the calm was real or just a mask. But something told him this wasn’t just another pawn. This was something else. Something dangerous.