The Next Day

Vivienne knew something was wrong the moment she walked into the Carter Group boardroom.

The air was different. Heavy. No casual chatter. No fake smiles. Just stiff backs, tight jaws, and screens already lit with headlines she hadn’t opened yet but could feel in her bones.

She took her seat slowly. “Why am I being called into an emergency board meeting?” she asked, keeping her tone steady.

No one answered immediately.

Mr. Carter sat at the head of the table, fingers interlaced, face drawn in a way that made Vivienne’s chest tighten. This wasn’t business stress. This was fear controlled, but real.

Finally, one of the senior...