His tone turned icy, sharp enough to slice through the roaring crowd.
"I don't know who the real owner is," he said coldly, each word deliberate, "but I know people in positions of power here. Contact them. Immediately."
"Right away, boss," Lucas replied at once, bowing deeply before hurrying out. His polished shoes nearly slipped against the marble floor as he rushed off, already dialing his phone with trembling fingers. Sweat gathered at his temple despite the air-conditioning.
Meanwhile, at the center of it all, Alex stood unmoving.
His entire world had narrowed down to one person.
Gabe.
The noise, the lights, the murmurs....none of it mattered. His eyes remained fixed solely on the man in the wheelchair before him.
"Please say yes, Gabe," Alex repeated, his voice softer now, stripped of authority and layered instead with something raw. Vulnerable. "I promise you… you won't regret it."
