The decision didn't come from pressure.
That was the first thing Elena checked for.
No supplier ultimatum. No regulator note. No leak that forced their hand. No executive tantrum dressed up as urgency.
The decision came from readiness.
Timothy called the meeting himself.
No calendar blast. No assistants coordinating schedules. Just a message sent directly to five people, short and unambiguous.
Conference room. 08:30. Closed door.
When Elena arrived, Hana was already inside, tablet open, posture neutral. Jun stood near the window with his arms folded, staring out at the city like it owed him answers. Maria sat at the table, service binder closed but within reach. Victor leaned against the wall, not sitting, pen already uncapped.
Timothy came in last, as usual.
He didn't sit right away. He stood at the head of the table and looked at each of them once, not to assert authority, but to confirm attention.
"We're going to speak," he said.
No one reacted.
