“Ladies and gentlemen,” Alexander’s voice boomed through the house speakers, sharp and clear.

The ambient chatter of the ballroom died down instantly.

Marcus froze, his head snapping toward the stage.

“My name is Alexander Vale,” he said, his voice echoing off the limestone walls. “And some of you in this room still owe me your careers.”

A collective murmur rippled through the crowd.

Beside me, the guard’s grip on my arm loosened slightly as he stared at the stage in disbelief.

“Alexander,” Marcus muttered under his breath, his face turning a deep, angry red.

Marcus turned and began to walk toward the stage, gesturing frantically for his lead security officer to follow him.

“Stay with her,” Marcus barked over his shoulder to the guard holding me.

But the guard was distracted, his eyes darting between me and the stage where the former billionaire was standing.

“I am here tonight to talk about the future of Vale Global,” Alexander said, his voice commanding and resonant. “And the massive fraud currently being committed in its name.”

The crowd gasped.