I could feel every eye in the room burning into me as I stood my ground. The weight of their judgment was almost palpable, but I refused to show any weakness. Julian's smirk widened as he watched me, clearly savoring what he believed would be my downfall.
"Mr. Knight," a smooth voice called from my left. I turned to see Damian Prescott approaching, champagne flute in hand. "With Miss Ashworth's backing, I wouldn't worry too much about Julian's... theatrics."
I nodded slightly. "I appreciate your concern."
"The Ashworth name carries significant weight," he continued, just loud enough for nearby guests to hear. "More than most in this room would care to admit."
Before I could respond, another figure materialized beside us. Roman Volkov, known for his extensive business connections across Veridia City, offered his hand.
"We haven't been properly introduced. Roman Volkov," he said, his accent thick but his grip firm. "I've heard interesting things about you, Mr. Knight."
