Chapter 4 — The First Battle

Emily

The conference room was a stark, intimidating space. All sleek lines and sharp edges, it seemed designed to discourage warmth or levity. A long glass table stretched endlessly beneath the glow of recessed lighting, reflecting the screens of open laptops and the faint gleam of polished silver pens. Around it, senior executives sat in an orderly row, their expressions carefully curated masks of neutrality. The air crackled like static, heavy with unspoken judgment, and the faint clicking of keys or the rustle of papers punctuated the silence.