Lavayla's final words had barely settled when the illusion answered.
At first, it was subtle, starting with a distortion.
A ripple moved across the shiny conference table like light bending through water. The glass wall behind the executives shimmered for a fraction of a second before stabilizing again. No one reacted.
Then came the sound—a thin, almost imperceptible crack.
Lavayla's pupils constricted.
Another crack followed, longer and louder this time. A spiderweb of fine, branching lines fractured across the glass behind the CEO. Still, no one moved. They remained seated, watching her with a mix of confusion and irritation, as if her refusal were the only irregularity in the room.
Lavayla surged to her feet.
The moment she moved, the illusion collapsed.
