The sycophants clapped politely.

Then the first invisible bomb detonated.

Daniel’s phone rang—a harsh, jarring sound cutting through the applause. He glanced at the screen, frowned, and stepped into the adjoining hallway. Maria’s camera tracked him through the crack in the pantry door.

“What do you mean, frozen?” Daniel barked, hushed and frantic. “Arthur, it’s a corporate account. You can’t just freeze payroll… Who authorized it? What mandate?”

Before he got an answer, a second phone rang at the table. Evelyn picked up with an irritated sigh. “Yes? … Declined? That’s impossible, it’s a platinum card.

Run it again. I said run it again.”