I watched Griffin Rocky enter the hearing room with the confidence of a man who knew he held all the cards. Liam immediately stepped forward to block his path, his face twisted with anger.
"This is a closed hearing," Liam snapped. "You have no right to be here."
Griffin merely smiled, unfazed by Liam's hostility. "I believe I have every right to speak on matters directly involving my employer."
"He's right," Nathaniel's cool voice cut through the tension. All heads turned toward him. "I invited Mr. Rocky to join us. Unless you're suggesting you have more authority than I do in this matter, Liam?"
The challenge in Nathaniel's tone was unmistakable. I glanced at him, momentarily surprised by his intervention. Our eyes met briefly, and though his face remained impassive, I caught something in his gaze—a silent assurance that I wasn't alone.
Liam's jaw tightened, but he stepped aside, allowing Griffin to enter.
