*Noland’s POV*

As I step into the office the following morning, an unfamiliar tension greets me. It's as if a storm is brewing in the air, and I can't help but feel like I'm caught right in its eye. My gut churns at the thought that it has something to do with what Avery has planned, and I find myself scanning the room for any signs of her scheming.

"Morning, Mister Noland," says one of the associates, a tinge of wariness in her voice. She avoids my gaze, ...