Chapter 117

Theo's POV The VM Group auditorium had never felt more cavernous than it did that afternoon, its tiered seating filled with nearly four hundred employees who had gathered to hear about our victory over Alpha Lucian. The weight of their collective attention pressed down on me as I stood behind the polished podium that had witnessed countless corporate announcements over the years. But none of those previous moments had carried the personal stakes of what I was about to say. Charlie stood near the side entrance, his posture alert as he monitored the room for any signs of disruption. The security measures were probably unnecessary—corporate victory announcements rarely attracted protesters—but recent events had taught us both to expect the unexpected. The legal department had positioned themselves in the front row, their satisfied expressions reflecting the contracts and settlements that had secured our position in the marketplace. Dr. Patricia sat with the research and development team,