The data on the screen was a clever fake, but to anyone else, it looked authentic.

Victoria Sterling stood near the front of the stage, her arms crossed, a cold smile playing on her lips.

She looked back at me, her eyes filled with dark satisfaction.

“Now,” Andrew whispered to Koko.

“I am trying,” Koko said, her fingers flying across the virtual keyboard.

The progress bar on the tablet suddenly flickered.

It jumped to one hundred percent and turned bright green.

“I am in,” Koko breathed, her eyes lighting up.

“The audio feed is ours.”

Andrew stepped forward, leaving the shadow of the marble pillars, and walked toward the center aisle.

“Julian,” Andrew called out, his voice calm and carrying easily across the room.

The ballroom fell silent as everyone turned to look at the CEO.

Julian smirked, gripping the sides of the wooden podium.

“Ah, Andrew,” Julian said.

“Have you come to make your excuses?”

“No,” Andrew said, stopping halfway down the carpeted aisle.

“I came to let everyone hear the truth.”

Andrew raised his hand and gave a slight nod toward Koko.