Chapter 99 — The Press Room
The press room was already full.
Too full.
Reporters filled every seat, cameras lined the walls, microphones crowded the podium like a metal forest.
The air buzzed with anticipation.
Victor Dawson's accusations had spread across every financial news outlet overnight.
Now everyone wanted the same thing.
Amber Gareth's response.
Behind the curtain separating the stage from the waiting reporters, Amber adjusted the sleeve of her black blazer.
The outfit was simple.
Sharp.
Professional.
No distractions.
Except the ring.
She had made sure of that.
The diamond caught the light every time she moved her hand.
Alex stood beside her.
Arms crossed.
Watching the live monitor showing the press room.
Reporters whispered among themselves.
Cameras ready.
Phones out.
Everyone waiting.
"You still have time to walk away," Alex said quietly.
Amber glanced sideways at him.
"Are you hoping I will?"
"No."
"Then stop offering."
His mouth almost twitched.
Almost.
He studied her for a moment.
"You don't have to prove anything."
"I know."
"Then why do this?"
Amber looked back at the screen.
Rows of reporters.
Hungry.
Waiting.
"Because if I stay quiet," she said, "people assume Victor Dawson is right."
Alex's voice softened slightly.
"And if you speak?"
Amber's smile was calm.
"Then he learns something important."
"What?"
"That I don't scare easily."
A staff member approached them.
"Miss Gareth, we're ready."
Amber nodded once.
The staff member stepped away.
Alex reached out briefly, touching her wrist.
She looked at him.
His voice was low.
"Whatever happens out there…"
Amber waited.
"…I've got you."
Her heart skipped once.
But she didn't let it show.
"Good," she said lightly.
"Because I'm about to start a war."
The curtain opened.
Light flooded the stage.
The noise of the press room exploded instantly.
Questions flying.
Flashes popping.
Amber stepped up to the podium.
Alex remained just behind her, slightly to the side.
Close enough.
But letting her lead.
Amber waited.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
The noise slowly faded.
Reporters quieted as they realized she wasn't speaking yet.
She simply watched them.
Calm.
Confident.
When the room finally settled—
Amber leaned slightly toward the microphone.
"Good morning."
Her voice carried clearly through the room.
Professional.
Steady.
"As many of you know, Victor Dawson held a press conference yesterday."
A few reporters scribbled quickly.
Amber continued.
"In that conference, he suggested that my personal relationship with Alexander Wilson influenced corporate decisions within Wilson Group."
She paused.
Letting the words settle.
Then—
"I'd like to clarify something."
Silence filled the room.
Amber's gaze moved across the reporters.
"One: I have never worked for Wilson Group."
Pens scratched faster.
"Two: I have never participated in Wilson Group negotiations."
More writing.
"Three: I have never received financial compensation from Wilson Group in any form."
Another pause.
Then she leaned slightly closer to the microphone.
"So the accusation that I manipulated corporate decisions…"
Her voice sharpened slightly.
"…is false."
Cameras flashed rapidly.
One reporter raised a hand.
Amber nodded.
"Yes."
"Miss Gareth, Dawson Global claims they have documentation suggesting otherwise. Are you calling Mr. Dawson a liar?"
Amber didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The room erupted with noise again.
Questions flying from every direction.
"Miss Gareth—"
"Do you believe this is a personal attack?"
"Is your engagement affecting Wilson Group operations?"
Amber raised a hand calmly.
The room quieted again.
"This is not about my engagement."
She glanced briefly toward Alex.
Then back to the reporters.
"This is about strategy."
Reporters exchanged looks.
Amber continued.
"Victor Dawson didn't make those accusations to protect the market."
Her voice stayed calm.
"He made them to weaken a competitor."
A few journalists nodded slowly.
Amber wasn't yelling.
She wasn't emotional.
She was dismantling the accusation piece by piece.
One reporter spoke up.
"Then why target you?"
Amber smiled faintly.
"Because attacking Alexander Wilson directly is difficult."
A few reporters laughed softly.
Even Alex's eyes flickered slightly with amusement.
Amber continued.
"So Mr. Dawson chose the easier target."
She tapped the podium lightly.
"Me."
Another reporter leaned forward.
"Are you saying Dawson Global fabricated evidence?"
Amber tilted her head.
"I'm saying if they have evidence, they should present it."
A beat passed.
"Until then…"
Her gaze hardened slightly.
"…they should stop implying corruption where none exists."
Silence settled again.
Then a voice from the back of the room spoke.
Clear.
Confident.
"Interesting."
Amber's eyes shifted toward the back row.
A man stood slowly.
Tall.
Dark suit.
Sharp features.
Dark eyes.
He wasn't holding a reporter's notebook.
He wasn't holding a microphone.
And yet—
Every person in the room turned to look at him.
Because they knew exactly who he was.
Daniel Dawson.
Victor Dawson's son.
The cameras turned instantly.
Reporters whispered.
Daniel walked forward calmly through the crowd.
Hands in his pockets.
Relaxed.
Like this press conference was his living room.
Amber watched him approach.
So this was the famous rival.
He stopped near the front.
Met her gaze directly.
Then smiled slightly.
"Miss Gareth," he said smoothly.
Amber's voice stayed calm.
"Mr. Dawson."
Daniel tilted his head.
"You speak very confidently for someone who insists she has nothing to hide."
Amber didn't flinch.
"Confidence usually means that."
Some reporters chuckled.
Daniel's smile widened slightly.
"But confidence isn't proof."
Amber rested her hands lightly on the podium.
"Neither are accusations."
A few reporters murmured approval.
Daniel studied her.
Interested now.
"Tell me something," he said.
Amber raised an eyebrow.
"Go ahead."
Daniel's voice remained smooth.
"If you've never influenced Wilson Group decisions…"
He paused.
"…why did Alexander Wilson choose you?"
The room went silent again.
Every camera focused on Amber.
The question hung in the air.
Not corporate.
Not legal.
Personal.
And dangerous.
Amber didn't look away from Daniel.
Not even for a second.
Her answer came calmly.
"You should ask him."
Every eye in the room turned to Alex.
Who had been silent until now.
Watching.
Waiting.
But now—
Alex stepped forward.
And the entire atmosphere in the room shifted.