By Monday morning, the battle lines had been drawn.
Not publicly.
Not in newspapers.
Not on television.
Inside Ravenscroft Group, however, everyone knew exactly what was happening.
The war for the company had begun.
And Clara was standing at the center of it.
She arrived at headquarters before sunrise.
The city outside was still waking up. Traffic lights blinked over half-empty streets. Delivery trucks moved through downtown. Coffee shops were only beginning to open their doors.
Inside Ravenscroft Tower, however, the lights were already on.
Someone had been busy.
Very busy.
The moment Clara stepped out of the elevator, she noticed the atmosphere.
People stopped talking when she walked past.
Some nodded politely.
Others avoided eye contact completely.
A few watched openly.
Waiting.
Observing.
Judging.
Clara pretended not to notice.
But she noticed everything.
