Wednesday, October 11th, 10:15am
The Norton integration meeting proceeded with its usual rhythm. PowerPoint slides, revenue projections, timeline discussions. Grayson ran the meeting with his characteristic efficiency, but his attention kept drifting to Joy Smith three chairs down.
She looked different today. Not the clothes, she'd reverted to one of her typical ugly suits, but something in her. Maybe her husband had been a repressive shield over her happiness. Grayson knew a lot of women struggled to get away from abusive partners and often go back, thinking that's all they deserve because they are told that by the abuser. Grayson would make sure Joy had the help she needed to support leaving her husband.
But right now, whatever had been weighing on her seemed lighter.
"Smith," he sai
