The atmosphere in the boardroom was electric, a charged silence hanging heavy as the members filed in. Claudia entered last, her composed exterior betraying none of the turmoil brewing inside. She scanned the room, her sharp eyes landing on Alexander, who sat at the head of the table, exuding quiet authority.
Eleanor Hayes, seated to Alexander’s right, offered a polite nod in Claudia’s direction, but the tension between them was palpable.
“Let’s get started,” Alexander began, his voice calm but firm.
As he spoke, Emma sat in her cubicle, the minutes stretching into hours as she waited for news. Her stomach churned with anxiety, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her. She tried to focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting to Alexander and the confrontation unfolding behind cl
