Chapter 4 — Old Rivalries, New Problems

Claire

The Atrium was bustling with workers as Claire strode toward the towering Christmas tree at its center, clipboard in hand and a thin, determined line set across her lips. The scent of pine and cinnamon hung thick in the air, mingling with the faint hum of holiday music drifting from the overhead speakers. Normally, this seasonal cocktail of sights and smells would tug at her nostalgia—a faint reminder of family trips to the mall during her childhood—but today it served only as a reminder of the immense pressure resting squarely on her shoulders.