Chapter 148: The Power Behind the Throne

The soft glow of the Oval Office lamp cast long shadows as Chris leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming against the polished desk. Across from him, Skylar stood by the window, her arms crossed as she gazed at the city lights.

"You know they're not going to stop, right?" she said without turning.

Chris smirked, his sharp blue eyes unreadable. "They never do."

The media frenzy surrounding his rejection of Princess Isabella had only intensified. Diplomats whispered, rivals fumed, and world leaders recalculated their strategies. But Chris? He remained unmoved.

Skylar finally turned to face him. "Choosing me over a royal wasn't just personal—it was political."

He studied her for a moment before standing. In two strides, he was in front of her, lifting her chin so their eyes met. "Everything I do is political."

Skylar searched his face, trying to decipher what lay beneath his carefully controlled exterior. "So what now?"

Chris's smirk faded, replaced by something colder—something decisive. "Now, I make sure no one questions my authority again."

A knock interrupted them. The Chief of Staff entered, his expression tense. "Sir, the European Union just called an emergency meeting regarding your administration's policies. They're considering sanctions."

Chris didn't flinch. Instead, he chuckled. "Let them. By the time they finish their meeting, they'll realize they need me more than I need them."

Skylar watched as he strode back to his desk, his presence filling the room. The boy she once met in a university lecture hall was gone. In his place stood the most powerful man in the world.

And she wasn't sure if that was a good thing.