The tension from the board meeting lingered like a storm cloud over the office. Every glance and hushed whisper seemed heavier, sharper. Emma walked through the halls with her head held high, but the pressure was suffocating.
In Alexander’s office, the mood was equally tense. He leaned against his desk, arms crossed, staring out the window as Emma paced the room.
“We stopped her today,” she said, more to herself than him, “but this isn’t over.”
Alexander turned to face her, his expression grim but resolute. “You’re right. Claudia’s not one to back down easily. But she made a critical mistake today—showing her hand too soon. Now we have the upper ground.”
Emma stopped pacing and looked at him. “What if she finds another way to attack us? She knows how to twist everything to her advantag
