Another gestured vaguely around them at the glittering chandeliers, the uniformed staff, the discreet but visible security presence. This was one of the most prestigious hotels in the city. Heads of state had stayed here. International summits had been held here. The idea that someone could be taken—silently, cleanly—from within its walls felt impossible.
But Mark was not smiling.
They had known him for years—smooth, diplomatic, perpetually easygoing. He negotiated billion-dollar contracts without breaking a sweat. Yet now, the color had drained from his face, and there was a stiffness to him that unsettled even the most skeptical among them.
"This is not speculation," Mark said tightly. "Security is reviewing the footage. They'll be here any moment."
Almost on cue, two members of the hotel's security team approached. Their expressions alone were enough to make the surrounding executives' stomachs drop.
