#Chapter 23: The Price to Pay

Liam’s POV The sound of rustling papers filled the room, my fingers flicking through document after document in a frenzy. I couldn’t focus. Every sheet I pulled out seemed to carry a new problem, a fresh reminder of the looming crisis I now found myself in. Greg's veiled threat from the conference echoed in my head, repeating over and over, twisting my thoughts into a knot of panic. "Damn it!" I muttered under my breath, tossing the latest batch of papers onto the desk. They scattered across the polished wood surface, a mess of legal contracts, financial reports, and partnership agreements. I barely heard the door open behind me. Aria stepped into the office, her footsteps cautious as she approached. I didn’t look up, my eyes glued to the numbers that weren’t adding up, the deals that seemed suddenly shaky. “Liam, what’s going on?” Her voice cut through the haze of my frustration. I glanced at her, rubbing the back of my neck, and let out a breath I hadn’t realized I w