Chapter 21. The Public Launch

The Ledger headquarters braced for dawn not in sleep, but in suspended breath. A new era loomed under Harper Quinn’s ascendancy—unspoken, electric, and deliberate.

Outside the headquarters, the skyline shimmered with anticipatory quiet. Inside, rooms were lit with gold and glass, every corridor curated. An exclusive invitation had already gone out hours earlier—streamed directly to elite stakeholders, legacy board members, curated media voices, and a selection of global insiders.

Tonight, Harper wouldn’t just occupy the seat.

She would claim the stage.

Not merely reinforcing authority—but declaring agenda.

Backstage, in a ceremonial suite draped in velvet and metal, Harper dressed alone at first. The air smelled faintly of bergamot and sandalwood, grounding her in something sensual but sharp. The gown was midnight blue, structured at the shoulders, subtle in its femininity but unapologetically commanding. The fabric shimmered in angles, the hem cut with