The boardroom smelled like polished wood and restrained hostility.
Long glass windows overlooked the city skyline, but no one inside the room admired the view. Twelve executives sat along the oval table, their tailored suits immaculate, their expressions sharper than their cufflinks.
At the head of the table, he stood.
Calm.
Controlled.
Unmovable.
She stood slightly behind and to his right.
Not hidden.
Not spotlighted.
Present.
And very aware that every pair of eyes in the room had already assessed her twice.
The door shut.
Silence settled.
One of the senior board members cleared his throat.
“We weren’t expecting a press cycle this morning,” he began smoothly.
He didn’t sit.
He rarely did when he intended to dominate a room.
“Nor was I,” he replied evenly.
A screen flicke
