The celebration dinner ended later than expected. By the time the final guests left Ashford Holdings' executive residence, the city beyond the windows had settled into quiet lights and distant traffic. The energy that had filled the evening slowly faded, leaving behind a stillness that felt unfamiliar after months of chaos.
For the first time in what felt like years, there was no crisis demanding immediate attention, no scandal, no emergency meeting, no attack, no threat waiting around the next corner. The company had recovered; Ashford Holdings had reclaimed its position. The acquisition was complete, their competitors were retreating, and the future finally looked stable, yet Seraphina found herself unable to relax.
