"He Made Me Give Up My First-Class Seat to His Intern—Then I Let Him Present My Stolen Pitch."

The hallway was quiet, lined with plush navy carpets and soft golden lighting. But standing outside Suite 1004, looking frantic and utterly out of place, were Jared and Kiera.

Jared was sweating through his linen shirt, his tie loosened, his hair disheveled. Kiera was still wearing his oversized suit jacket, clutching her designer handbag—a handbag I recognized as a replica of the one Jared had claimed he bought for his sister three weeks ago.

When the elevator doors opened and I stepped out, flanked by two towering men from my private security team, Jared’s eyes lit up with a mix of anger and relief.

“Annalise!” Jared shouted, marching toward me down the hallway. “Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea what kind of nightmare we’ve been through tonight? The hotel canceled our rooms! My card was blocked! We’ve been standing here for an hour!”

My security detail stepped forward instantly, forming a solid wall of muscle between Jared and me.

Jared stopped cold, staring at the security guards in utter shock. “What is this? Who are these guys?”

I walked past him toward my suite door, my heels clicking softly on the marble floor transition. I didn't even look at him.

“Annalise, talk to me!” Jared pleaded, his voice dropping into that rehearsed, soft tone he always used when he wanted something from me. “Look, I’m sorry about the seat, okay? It was a misunderstanding. Kiera was really anxious, and I was just trying to be a team player. You know how important this trip is for my promotion. Why are you doing this?”

I tapped my room key against the electronic lock. The light flashed green, and the door clicked open.

I turned around slowly, crossing my arms over my chest.

Kiera stepped up beside Jared, trying to put on a meek, innocent expression, though her eyes flicked greedily toward the luxurious suite interior behind me.

“Annalise... I’m so sorry,” Kiera squeaked, her voice trembling with synthetic guilt. “If I knew you were going to get this upset, I never would have taken your seat. Please don't be mad at Jared. He was just taking care of me.”

I looked at Kiera, examining her from head to toe. She was young, ambitious, and utterly lacking in real corporate substance. Jared had chosen a shadow over the woman who had built his foundation.

“Kiera,” I said smoothly, my voice devoid of any anger, “you can keep the seat. In fact, you can keep the jacket, the fake designer bag, and whatever else Jared promised you while he was stealing from my division’s budget.”

Jared’s face drained of color. “What are you talking about? Stealing?”

“Did you really think I didn't notice the twenty-four thousand dollars in ‘miscellaneous travel expenses’ routed through Kiera’s intern ledger over the last three months, Jared?” I asked softly.

Jared swallowed hard, his throat moving nervously. “That... that was authorized corporate training expense!”

“We’ll see what the compliance board calls it on Monday,” I replied.

“Annalise, stop!” Jared took a step closer, his hands raised in surrender. “Look, let’s be reasonable. We’re getting married in four months. We’ve been together for five years! You can’t throw everything away because of a tiny argument on a plane!”

“The wedding is canceled, Jared,” I said, pulling the velvet ring box out of my tote bag and tossing it lightly into his hands. “The venue has been canceled. The caterers have been canceled. The honeymoon in Amalfi has been canceled. And by tomorrow afternoon, your career at Sterling & Associates will be canceled as well.”

Jared caught the box mechanically, his fingers trembling as he stared down at the velvet container.

“You’re crazy,” he hissed, his sweet tone instantly vanishing, replaced by a ugly, desperate snarl. “You think you hold all the cards? You think this company runs on your feelings? Tomorrow morning at 9 AM, I am walking into the Apex Global boardroom and delivering the pitch of a lifetime. Mr. Vance loves me. He doesn't even know who you are!”

I looked at him with pity.

“Are you sure about that, Jared?”

“I am presenting Project Vanguard tomorrow!” Jared roared, shaking his finger at me. “I have the deck! I have the files! You’re just bitter because you got left behind!”

I offered him a serene, blinding smile.

“Then I wish you the very best of luck tomorrow morning, Jared,” I said quietly. “You’re going to need it.”

I stepped into my suite, and my security detail pulled the heavy mahogany door shut, locking it with a sharp, final thud.

Through the solid wood, I heard Jared hit the door with his fist once before screaming, “I don't need you, Annalise! Kiera and I will take the victory tomorrow!”

Inside my suite, I walked over to the floor-to-ceiling glass balcony, looking out at the dark Atlantic Ocean crashing against the white sand of South Beach.

I picked up my phone and dialed a personal number I had saved in my speed dial for six years.

The phone rang twice before a deep, authoritative voice answered.

“Annalise?” Marcus Vance’s voice came through the speaker, warm and commanding. “I was wondering when you’d call. I received a very interesting update from our security liaison at the airport tonight regarding a private charter.”

“Good evening, Marcus,” I said, leaning against the balcony glass. “I believe we have a small adjustment to make regarding tomorrow morning’s 9 AM agenda.”