ensuring no one else could enter or leave. The bodyguards stood like s

a moment longer than was comfortable. The silence was oppressive, and

, Mr. Lee, cleared his throat and tried

of any such plans. This is all a misunderstanding

er fingers still drumming a slow

icy. "Then you won't mind if we review th

table, seeking support but finding only averted gazes. "Of course not

er lips. "Good," she said softly. "Because if I find that any of you h

ho had rushed out earlier returned, clutching a laptop and several documents. He

recordings and messages," he sai

ents, then back at the man. "Well do

and starting the playback of the recordings. The room filled with the sound of voices-some familiar,

eir expressions a mixture of shock, fear, and anger. As the damning evidence p

screen. When the recordings finally ended, she closed the lap

ld and unforgiving as a winter's wind,

breathing of those who had been implicated. Esme's gaz

not taking her eyes off t

eir positions immediately. They will be escorted out

, President," she replied, steppi

former board members from the room, Esme t

he demanded, her voice calm yet laced with a subt

asual. He smiled, a playful curve to his

oulder level, the gesture smooth and deliberate, and shrugged

ght and teasing, the words wrapped in a playful undert

en them, her concern evident in the furrow

the other, the subtle movement betraying

p

t of her chair, the rhythmic tapping a st

silent battle of wills intensi

ontrolled growl, each word dripping with a mix of frustrati

ed, his eyes spark

it of fun." His voice was smooth, almost silk-like, the

, the tension thickening as the unspoke

y on Esme's shoulder, a silent g

e it hardened again as she focused back on Aron. "Fun?" she repeated, her v

, a flicker of something unreadable passing throug

g back in his chair, "maybe it's t

ck with anger. Without a moment's hesitation, she s

breath as she reached him,

she grabbed Aron's collar and, with a f

urface reverberated through the room. Aron's playful smir