The air inside the loft was still, but not silent. It carried the weight of anticipation, the kind that moved beneath every breath, every glance, every unspoken word.

Today was the day.

The board was convening.

I stood in front of the mirror in the back office, fastening the cuff of my shirt with slow, precise movements. I wasn’t dressing for confrontation. I was dressing for clarity. There would be no loud declarations. No public defense. Only presence. Grounded. Unapologetic. ...