It was mid-afternoon, and the air inside the sleek glass conference room was thick with concentration. Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting warm glows across the table cluttered with tablets, notepads, fashion sketches, and data charts.
Silver sat at the head of the long table, commanding attention with her natural grace and quiet intensity. Around her sat Henry, Noah, Abraham, Natalie, and several key department heads. They were in the middle of discussing the next international expansion following the wildly successful Paris launch.
Noah was mid-presentation, projecting revenue growth and plans for a new Milan boutique on the wall. His voice was calm, precise, and calculated.
"And with the Italian press coverage, we're expecting a forty percent increase in brand value—"
Riiiiing!
The shrill sound of the landline phone interrupted the flow of conversation.
