Chapter 1: The Ice Age
The opulent ballroom, once alive with the clinking of crystal glasses and soft jazz, fell into a suffocating, dead silence. Julian stood frozen, his hand still half-raised from shoving Nora to the marble floor. The sycophantic smile he had plastered on for Mr. Sterling began to twitch uncontrollably as the older billionaire walked right past him, ignoring his extended hand completely.
Mr. Sterling’s glossy black leather shoes stopped right next to the scattered papers and the black "VIB" credential badge. To the absolute shock of the watching elite, the most powerful man in the room slowly knelt down on the cold marble floor. With immense care, he picked up the crumpled lanyard, straightened it, and then gathered the loose white documents.
He extended a hand to Nora. "Are you alright, Dr. Vance?" Mr. Sterling asked, his voice carrying a deep, paternal warmth that no one in the room had ever heard before.
Nora took his hand, accepting her black clutch bag as she stood up. She took a slow, deep breath, maintaining her composure despite the dampness in her eyes. "I am fine, Arthur. Thank you."
Julian’s brain short-circuited. "A-Arthur? Mr. Sterling, you know this woman? She’s a fraud! She ruined my presentation, she doesn't belong here—"
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Mr. Sterling stood at his full height, turning slowly to face Julian. The warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by an icy, piercing glare that made Julian visibly step back.
"She doesn't belong here?" Mr. Sterling whispered, the quietness of his voice carrying more danger than a roar. "Julian, the 'VIB' badge on the floor stands for Vanguard Investment Board. Dr. Nora Vance is the Chief Forensic Auditor I personally hired to investigate your branch. She owns this evening."
