The penthouse apartment felt suffocating despite its spacious layout. I could sense the tension radiating from Evelyn, Serena, and Maya before I even opened the door. Three pairs of eyes fixed on me the moment I stepped inside, their expressions ranging from worried to terrified.
"Ethan!" Evelyn shot up from the leather couch, her professional composure cracking. "Thank God you're back. We've been worried sick."
Serena wheeled herself closer, her face pale with concern. "Are you hurt? When you didn't come back for hours, we thought something terrible had happened."
Maya stood by the window, her officer's instincts clearly on high alert. "The entire business district is buzzing with rumors. Emergency vehicles, private security teams mobilizing. What exactly happened at that meeting?"
I loosened my tie and walked to the bar, pouring myself a glass of water. The golden dragon technique had drained more energy than I'd expected, and my throat felt parched.
