Chapter 247

No.1

Elisa's words hung in the air.

The executives in the rows behind them began to whisper.Fingers pointed at Allena, who was standing awkwardly in the aisle in her bright white Dior suit.

Allena's face burned a deep, humiliating crimson.She hadn't expected Elisa to fight back so aggressively in aroom full of industry titans.

She immediately deployed her only weapon. Her lower lip began to tremble. Her eyes filled with large,glossy tears. She turned to August, her hands clutching her expensive purse.

"August, look at her," Allena whimpered. Her voice cracked perfectly. "She's trying to ruin the presentation. I just want what's best for the project."

August's face darkened with rage. He felt the eyes of the room on his back. Elisa's refusal wasn't just an insult to Allena; it was a direct, public challenge to his authority.

No.2

He leaned across the desk toward Elisa.

"Elisa.Stand up. Give her the seat," August ordered.His voice was a harsh, commanding bark, the tone he usedto fire incompetent employees.

The whispering in the room grew louder. The CEO of the Chambers Group was publicly ordering his lead architect to surrender her seat to a consultant. It was a grotesque display of nepotism.

Elisa sat perfectly still. Her spine was straight against the back of the chair. She didn't even lóok at him.

"Mr. Chambers," Elisa said, her voice dripping with ice. She tapped her manicured fingernail against the white placard on the desk. "If you know how to read,you will see my name on this desk."

She finally turned her head to look at him.

No.3

"This is a federal regulatory hearing," Elisa stated coldly. "Not your private yacht party. I am not moving."

August's jaw locked. The muscles in his neck strained. He felt a violent urge to grab her arm and physically drag her out of the chair. He took a half-

step forward.

Alastair Cromwell moved instantly.

He stepped into the aisle, placing his large frame directly between August and Elisa.

"If you touch her, Chambers," Alastair said, his voice dangerously low, "I will have security drag you out of this building in handcuffs for assault."

No.4

The two billionaires locked eyes. The ar between them crackled with pure, violent hostility.

A short, balding man wearing a lanyard suddenly pushed through the crowd in the aisle. He was the FDA hearing coordinator.He looked terrified.

"Excuse me, gentlemen. Is there a problem here?"the coordinator asked, sweating profusely.

August took a deep breath, forcing his anger down.He knew he couldn't start a brawl in front of the committee.

He looked at the coordinator with absolute disdain.

"Bring another chair," August commanded. "Place it on the other side of the aisle, in the front row. Ms.

No.5

Mills is vital to this project. She requires VIP seating."

The coordinator wiped his forehead. It was highly irregular to add seats to the designated front row,but he didn't have the courage to deny August Chambers.

"Right away, sir," the coordinator mumbled.

Two minutes later, a building staff member carried a large, plush leather chair down the aisle.He placed it awkwardly on the far side of the walkway,completely separated from the main desk.

August gently placed his hand on the small of Allena's back and guided her to the isolated chair.He treated her like fragile glass.

Allena sat down. She smoothed her white skirt. She looked across the aisle at Elisa and flashed a smug,victorious smile.

No.6

The executives in the room watched the display.Several of them looked at Elisa with eyes full of pity and quiet mockery. To them, Elisa had kept her chair,but she had been publicly humiliated. Her husband had just moved heaven and earth to accommodate his mistress.

Elisa felt the weight of their stares.

She didn't care. She felt a cold, dark amusement bubbling in her chest.

She turned her head and met Alastair's eyes. He was fighting a smirk.

August thought he had won. He thought he had elevated Allena. But Elisa knew the truth. August had just placed his fraudulent mistress in a highly visible,isolated chair, right in the direct line of fire.

The overhead lights in the room suddenly dimmed.The bright spotlights above the raised platform clicked on.

No.7

The room fell dead silent. The execution was about to begin.