The double glass doors swung shut behind the five board members, sealing off the ambient drone of the crowd outside. The air-conditioned silence inside the VIP lounge felt heavy, charged with an unuttered history of public spats and backroom maneuvers.
For a solid three seconds, neither side moved. Troy Husks held his glass half-raised, his eyes locked onto Jake Rivers. Duke Timber stood beside him, his chest rising and falling in tight, measured breaths, his right hand still resting near the top button of his jacket. Flanking Jake, Marcus Sheele adjusted his cufflink with deliberate calm, while Adrian Vale simply looked at Timber with a faint, unreadable glint in his eye.
Minister Chandler Spark was the first to break the stillness. He set his porcelain cup on the counter with a soft, deliberate clink and took two smooth steps forward, his hands open in a welcoming gesture.
