The banquet hall glittered with golden light.
Sophia Sullivan sat alone in the corner.
A champagne glass twirled between her fingers.
Isabella Robinson had left early due to urgent business.
Her head remained lowered.
The pale curve of her swan-like neck gleamed under the lights.
Men approached her intermittently.
"Alone, miss?"
A man in a tailored suit settled beside her.
He adjusted his tie with deliberate flair.
"I'm the deputy director of Warner Corp., overseeing the South Bay project."
His slicked-back hair shone with pomade.
The Rolex on his wrist flashed subtly.
"Care for a dance?"
His gaze raked over her with undisguised appraisal.
As though evaluating merchandise.
Sophia didn't look up.
"Not interested."
She'd chosen this quiet spot deliberately.
To avoid Ian Watson and Ryan Lawrence.
Her indifference provoked him.
"Playing hard to get? Women who come to these events—"
His words cut off abruptly.
A hand twisted his wrist backward.
His knee slammed onto the marble floor.
A scream tore through the air.
"Ah—!"
He glared up furiously.
And met eyes colder than ice.
Ian Watson released him, straightening his cuff.
"Ms. Sullivan is Mr. Sullivan's honored guest."
His quiet voice silenced the surrounding chatter.
"Mr. Sullivan has declared that offending Ms. Sullivan means war with the Sullivan family."
He turned to Sophia with a slight bow.
"My apologies for the disturbance."
Sophia swirled her champagne.
"Just a buzzing fly."
The kneeling man paled.
Sweat soaked through his dress shirt.
"You... you're Sophia Sullivan?"
Recent rumors flooded his mind.
Ethan Sullivan breaking precedent by bringing a female companion.
The perfumery prodigy and speed skating champion.
The very person his CEO had stressed they must befriend.
And he'd been blind!
"Forgive me! I didn't recognize you!"
He scrambled to beg.
"Please show mercy..."
Ian cut him off impassively.
"Warner Corp.'s contract is terminated immediately."
"The Sullivan Group will never do business with your associates again."
The verdict landed like a guillotine.
The man collapsed.
Ian gestured for Sophia to follow.
They moved toward the elevators.
"Ms. Sullivan, I regret interrupting your evening."
Ian pressed the penthouse button.
His brow furrowed.
"Mr. Sullivan is in trouble."