Back in her suite, Camellia called Sophie.

“I stopped the override — barely. But Delacourt has backdoor files on Phoenix’s early black-budget donors. He’s threatening to leak them during your speech unless you agree to reform under GGA terms.”

“What does he want?”

“He wants to run Phoenix — with GGA oversight.”

Sophie stood in silence.

“Let him try,” she finally said. “He won’t win.”

Camellia paused. “There’s something else.”

“What?”

“One of the override files… was approved by Mary herself.”

“You shouldn’t give that speech,” Alexander said that night.

They stood on the hotel balcony, looking out at the glowing desert skyline.

“They’ve planned this,” he continued. “To corner...