Chapter 4

Behind me, the low rumble of an engine broke the silence. A sleek black sedan pulled smoothly to the curb.

The tinted window rolled down, revealing a face I hadn't seen in far too long.

My brother, Brandon.

His eyes instantly locked onto my raw, red-rimmed eyes.

The slight smirk on his face vanished completely.

"Tell me," he said, voice dropping dangerously low. "Who touched you?"

Those words shattered the dam holding my composure together.

The hard, unyielding armor I had worn all day crumbled into dust, and the tears I had swallowed back finally spilled over.

Right then, Director Vance stepped out of the glass entrance of the building.

He spotted me instantly, along with the luxury vehicle and the commanding, intimidating figure stepping out of it.

His steps faltered.

Brandon pushed the door open and stepped out. Standing over six-foot-two, his tailored presence radiated pure, suffocating authority.

He took off his dark suit jacket, draped it gently over my shaking shoulders, and patted my back with steady reassurance.

Only after I stopped shaking did he turn his gaze toward Director Vance.

"Good afternoon," Brandon said, his voice terrifyingly calm, devoid of any warmth. "I'm Mia's brother, Brandon. Were you the one just now... 'educating' Mia?"

He leaned heavily on the word educating.

Director Vance instinctively cleared his throat, trying to puff out his chest and project administrative authority.

Yet the second his eyes registered Brandon's sharp features, and his brain connected the name "Brandon," the blood drained from his face until he was ghost-white.

He had clearly recognized the face plastered all over corporate legal news - the ruthless litigation shark who dismantled multi-million-dollar corporations for breakfast.

Beads of cold sweat broke out across Vance's forehead. His lips parted, but not a syllable came out.

"Director Vance, was it?" Brandon's gaze swept over the man's trembling frame, suddenly curling into a cold, lethal smile. "It seems we'll need to schedule an extensive meeting very soon."

Brandon paused, letting every single syllable sink right into Vance's eardrums.

"Regarding the... extraordinary 'special treatment' Mia has received under your watch."

Watching Director Vance's face turn the color of ash, I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

It was time for this little drama to recast its lead.