The emergency board meeting convened in a matter of hours. The tension in the room was palpable, every eye focused on Alexander as he entered the room with Emma walking a few steps behind. Her heart pounded, the weight of the rumors suffocating her, but she squared her shoulders, determined not to show weakness.
Claudia was already seated, her expression a picture of calculated innocence. She offered a faint smirk as Alexander took his seat at the head of the table.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Alexander began, his voice steady but icy, “we’ve been made aware of an anonymous email circulating within the company, attempting to discredit me and an employee under my leadership. Let me be clear: this kind of baseless gossip has no place in our organization.”
Claudia raised a perfectly manicured
