The Price of Ambition

right' s head, her hands

th me! Someone c

was raw,

own shock, rushed to her sid

Her eyes were fixed on M

g CEO had shattered. This was pur

d Seraphina was back, the one who

eyes met

flicker there, the ass

her deception,

breath, schooli

voice trembling but regaining some contro

ived, sirens waili

Albright onto a stretcher,

CEO again, but with a

No one talks to the press about Ms. Albright until I say

ice wa

ght, holding her hand, whispering reassu

led grief she' d shown

lian was her priority. Evelyn' s inju

was rushed into emergency surgery

d when she' s stable, move her to a private wing. Top

ol the information,

f she woke up disoriented, or

on had to b

t survived

on, a fractured clavicle,

ness a day later, Seraphina

open. She looked confus

e whispered, he

ce soft, but with an undercurrent of warnin

." Evelyn murmured, tryin

ut Julian is safe. Project Nighting

ication

he flicker of something – gratitude, perhaps even fear –

na continued. "Aethelred will cover all your expenses,

ina who had screamed her name in t

back, reinfo

d, her voice weak. She closed her

st' s control

under strict instructions to rest and avoid company communicat

a "victory lap" after the cyber att

omposed and powerful

ar display of Aethelred' s (

st, known for his sharp qu

e's foundational architecture bears a striking resemblance to some of the ear

d some excellent groundwork at Aethelred, no doubt. Project Nightingale takes those initi

twitch in her jaw but ke

magnanimous air, t

rawing of what Aethelred could be. You always kept it in your desk. Such a sentimental piece. Perhaps, as a symbol of Aethelred moving into it

ding a highly symbolic item that repre

their first brainstorming dinner, full of hope and shared dream

ain in her chest, as if an invis

mall, locked drawer of her

st have told him, back when th

cool, controlled CEO, co

ing on the podium,

a subtle, knowing look in

how lingering attachmen

ly sever another tie, to ha

Julian' s "illn

ne, vanished. What did a

her, if she was truly

idea, Julian. A true symbol of our

s felt l

came to her office. "

iff. She pulled out the old, slightly f

strokes. Their shared drea

ed it to

hing hers. A triumphant litt

pter," he

away with it, a profound se

f emotional detachment, o

in was just another st

er, not at Julian, but at Elias fo

lf, for bein

It' s just a piece of paper. Juli

ack. Later, when Elias re

rything wo

lf-deception was, i