Chapter 18
The silence in the boardroom did not disappear after Lucas spoke. It shifted into something heavier, something more aware, like the entire room had suddenly realized the balance of power was no longer where it used to be. People were no longer just listening to him. They were watching me, carefully and cautiously, trying to understand who I had become.
I leaned back slightly in my chair, keeping my posture composed while my mind stayed sharp.
“Continue,” Lucas said, his tone steady, though something quieter sat beneath it.
The presentation resumed, but the confidence in the room had shifted. The executive speaking kept glancing in my direction, his voice no longer as smooth as before, as if he expected to be interrupted at any moment. I allowed him to continue, listening ca
