The boardroom felt like a tomb.
Nick Carter sat at the head of the long mahogany table, suit wrinkled, eyes hollow, hands trembling slightly as he lifted the final contract.
A dozen board members watched him with a mixture of pity and fear.
Some whispered.
Some avoided looking at him at all.
Chloe sat stiffly, pulse pounding.
Marcus lounged in the far corner, relaxed and triumphant.
Nick swallowed hard.
This was it.
His father's legacy.
His life's work.
The empire Ally once believed he would build.
All ending here.
He pressed the pen to the final page.
His signature came out heavy, uneven.
Nickolas Carter.
And with that—
It was over.
The lead board attorney cleared his throat.
"Ladies and gentlemen…" he said, clicking the remote.
The screen lit up.
The acquiring firm's name appeared in clean black font.
ELEVATE STRATEGY GROUP
Nick's head snapped up.
His breath caught.
The room erupted in shocked murmurs.
Marcus's smile vanished instantly.
