The three-hour board meeting of Newman Enterprise Group concluded with an unsettling, disciplined efficiency.
Where past sessions had devolved into shouting matches between Troy's aggressive bloc and Richard's staunch supporters, this morning moved in absolute silence. Every director spoke in muted, measured tones, meticulously double-checking their quarterly figures before making a single motion. No one dared to bring up internal feuds, personal grievances, or capital reallocation.
Jake sat at Richard's right hand the entire time, his demeanor completely unreadable. He flipped through the operational binders with casual detachment, occasionally leaning over to whisper a brief instruction to Alice, who logged the data onto her tablet.
When Richard finally tapped his pen against the mahogany table to declare the session adjourned, the tension in the room snapped like a taut wire.
Jake stood up smoothly, buttoning his charcoal suit jacket. "A productive session, Chairman."
