“Then let me be clear,” I said. “I work for the Olympus Royale because I’m the best person for the job. Not because I’m sleeping with the owners. I’ve increased revenue, improved public perception, and successfully navigated multiple crises—including this one. If you want to judge me on my professional performance, I welcome that scrutiny. But if you’re going to judge me on who I love, then this hearing isn’t about ethics. It’s about prejudice.”
The room erupted in whispers.
Commissioner Hendricks banged her gavel. “Order. Ms. George, I’d caution you against making accusations?—”
“I’m not making accusations,” I said. “I’m stating facts. You’ve reviewed our financial records. You’ve seen our operational data. You’ve examined our compliance reports. Everything is in order. The only reason we’re here is because Kurt Wilder—a member of this commission who is now under federal investigation for corruption—manufactured this crisis to force a sale of the Olympus Royale.”
“That’s a serious allegation,” Commissioner Wilson said.
“It’s a provable fact,” I countered. “Wilder received payments from the same foreign investors who attempted to purchase our hotel. He used his position on this commission to pressure us. He coordinated with Henri Saltz and Marcus Talbor to create a conspiracy that nearly resulted in multiple deaths last night.”
Commissioner Chen frowned. “Multiple deaths?”
“Marcus Talbor orchestrated an attempt to bomb our gala. He was arrested by LVPD. The charges include terrorism, attempted murder, and conspiracy. All of which are documented in the police report we submitted this morning.”
I watched the commissioners exchange glances.
“So yes,” I continued, “I’m in an unconventional relationship. Yes, I work for the men I love. But that relationship didn’t create this crisis. Kurt Wilder did. Henri Saltz did. The real question this commission should be asking is how a member of your board could weaponize your regulatory authority for personal gain.”
Silence.
Finally, Commissioner Hendricks spoke. “Ms. George, you’ve made your position clear. We’ll take your testimony under advisement. You’re dismissed.”
I nodded and turned toward the exit, and shortly, my three men joined me.
The Gaming Commission had adjourned without ruling, but everyone in that room knew what was coming. Wilder had been asked to recuse himself prior to the hearing pending an ethics investigation. Henri had been arrested earlier in the day by federal agents. The foreign investors’ attempted purchase had collapsed under regulatory scrutiny.
“How long do we have to wait to find out their decision?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter,” said Orion. “After what we presented, and after last night, where we were clearly heroes again, they wouldn’t dare move against us.”
We’d won.
Now, in the privacy of our suite, we were finally allowing ourselves to celebrate. The five of us included me, Orion, Leo, Ares, and Marta, who had refused to fly back to New York until she completed this task.
“To Tashi,” Leo said, raising his champagne glass. “Who turned a sex scandal into a viral marketing phenomenon, a hostile takeover into a publicity coup, and somehow made the Gaming Commission look like the bad guys.”
“To us,” I corrected, clinking my glass against his. “We did this together.”
“She’s right,” Orion said, pulling me close against his side.
Ares stood at the window, always scanning for threats even in victory. Some habits died hard.
But something felt wrong.
Maybe it was the way Ares kept checking his phone. Maybe it was the prickling sensation at the back of my neck that I’d learned not to ignore over these chaotic weeks. Maybe it was just paranoia after everything we’d been through.
“I should check in with hotel security,” Ares said, already moving toward the door. “Make sure the new protocols are?—”
The lights went out.
Complete darkness. Not just our suite, but the entire floor from what I could see through the windows—no emergency lighting, no exit signs, nothing.
“That’s not normal,” Orion said, his voice sharp with concern.
“No,” Ares agreed, already on his phone. The screen’s glow illuminated his face as he typed rapidly. “Security system’s not responding. Cameras are down. Emergency power should have kicked in by now.”
“Someone cut the power?” Marta asked, her voice small.
