Chapter 29 - The Poisoned Chalice
The grand ballroom of the city’s largest museum was packed wall-to-wall with the elite.
Crystal chandeliers cast a brilliant, glittering light over the sea of designer gowns and expensive suits. Soft classical music played in the background, completely masking the toxic, venomous reality of the corporate warfare occurring in plain sight.
Mateo and Valeria navigated the room flawlessly. They shook hands, smiled for the flashing cameras, and projected an image of absolute, unified strength.
Sterling, the corrupt executive, watched them from the balcony, a look of profound disgust twisting his face.
He gestured subtly to a waiter passing by.
"Make sure the lady receives the special vintage,"
Sterling whispered, slipping a thick roll of hundred-dollar bills into the waiter's pocket.
Ten minutes later, the waiter approached Valeria, offering a silver tray with a single, bubbling flute of champagne.
"Compliments of the board, Madam,"
The waiter said, keeping his eyes firmly on the floor.
Valeria reached out to take the glass.
But before her fingers could brush the crystal, Reyes, the head of security, stepped seamlessly out of the crowd. He intercepted the glass with a gloved hand.
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"The lady is not drinking tonight,"
Reyes stated coldly, his eyes locked onto the waiter with lethal intent.
