The air inside the conference room shifted so abruptly that everyone felt it, even before they fully understood why.
One moment, Daniel sat at the head of the long table, his posture relaxed yet authoritative, his expression unreadable as he listened to the quarterly updates. The next, his entire aura changed.
It was subtle, yet unmistakable.
His shoulders stiffened slightly, his jaw tightened, and the calm indifference in his eyes turned into something cold and distant.
The presenter, who had been confidently explaining the latest projections, faltered for a fraction of a second. His throat went dry, his voice nearly catching, but he forced himself to continue. He did not dare stop unless instructed. No one did.
Around the table, the others remained composed, their faces carefully neutral. Years of working under Daniel had trained them well. They knew better than to react openly.
But they could feel it.
The tension.
