Chapter 19: The Audit Showdown
Charles woke at dawn, heart hammering with nerves. Today was the public crossover—his invitation to Victor was accepted. Now they’d go live together on a national business talk show, with millions watching. This was either the final test or a trap.
Lena met him downstairs. Her expression was cool, collected.
"Let’s do this," she said, and they climbed into their ride.
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7:45 AM – Studio Backstage
A bustling mess of crew, cameras, lights. Charles stepped into makeup and headphones. Victor paced nearby, surrounded by Reed Global staffers.
They locked eyes briefly.
Victor’s smirk said it all: this was his territory.
A producer tapped Charles’ shoulder.
"Five minutes to air."
He closed his eyes. Lena straightened his tie.