The dining room was grand, the long, polished mahogany table was set with expensive porcelain dishes and crystal glasses filled with deep red wine. A rich aroma of roasted lamb and freshly baked bread filled the air, but Anna barely noticed it.
Anna sat beside Jaden, her posture poised, her hands resting lightly on the table. She wasn’t particularly hungry, but she forced herself to take a sip of the wine before her, needing something to keep her occupied.
Across the table, the three men—Daniel Kingston, Richard Hale, and Simon Carter—were engaged in casual conversation, their voices smooth, their words deliberate. Though the conversation was lighthearted, discussing investments and market trends, there was an underlying weight to it. These were powerful men, men who controlled industrie
