Freya.

When the host announced that Hawthorne Prosperity Group had won the exclusive rights to The Aurora Tower, my mouth fell open in shock. Pure happiness exploded inside me. I quickly covered my mouth and nose with both hands, eyes wide with disbelief and excitement. I couldn’t believe my ears. I had actually done it. I had pulled it off.

People around us started clapping as several men walked over to congratulate us. They shook hands with Ryder, then turned to me with polite smiles.

One of them chuckled and said to Ryder, “We weren’t expecting you to come tonight. But the moment you walked in, we all knew nobody...