The fallout was swift. By evening, the headlines were everywhere. “Orion Air Acquisition Canceled.”
“Mystery Woman Revealed as Veil Holdings Chairwoman.” The stock plummeted another 20%. Investors bailed. Sponsors dropped.
At headquarters, Gavin called another emergency meeting, his voice shouting: “We can fix this!”
he kept saying, but no one believed him.
Tanya was there, her eyes red, her hands shaking: “We didn’t know,” she said, like it was a defense.
Elliot just sat there, his sunglasses forgotten on the table.
A junior staffer, the same one who’d spoken up before, muttered: “You didn’t care to know.”
No one argued with him.
Lysandra was back in her hotel room, her notebook open on the desk.
She wasn’t writing, just sitting, staring out at the city lights. Her phone buzzed. Claire again: “They’re begging now.”
The text read. “Gavin’s offering to resign.” Lysandra didn’t answer right away.
