Hayes's words were a final stamp of approval.
With a final, confident smile, I led my entourage through the grand, gilded doors of the hotel's main ballroom.
The moment we stepped inside, the scale of the room hit us.
The ceiling soared high above, lost somewhere in the sparkle of countless crystal chandeliers.
Each one caught the warm golden light and fractured it into thousands of points that danced across the polished marble floors.
My gaze swept the hall. The raised stage held a polished wooden black table, and my inner circle was already in place. Seekers, legal counsel, key personnel, each exactly where they belonged.
Ellie and Ella sat to the far right.
Beside them, Alexa's eyes moved constantly, catching the small details no one else would notice.
To my left, Amanda had composed herself, the tension from earlier replaced with a mask of professionalism.
