On the dais, Harrison Kensington’s face turned violently purple. He turned toward Dominic, fists clenched.

The puppeteer’s strings were severed, and the puppets were looking right at him.

Harrison didn’t hesitate. Humiliated in front of Manhattan’s most powerful investors and the head of the Sterling empire, he lunged forward and struck Dominic across the jaw.

The crack of it echoed over the dead-silent room.

Dominic stumbled backward into a champagne tower. Crystal shattered into a thousand glittering shards as he went down, alcohol soaking his bespoke tuxedo.

“You parasitic bastard!” Harrison screamed, having to be held back by two board members.