The syllables of that name had barely left the mechanical filter of the gray-charcoal mask when a sudden, freezing shift occurred at the dining table.
Malcolm didn't explode with his usual corporate fury. Instead, a striking, physical stillness washed over his broad frame. His posture, which had been leaning forward in a stance of defensive dominance, instantly stiffened. Malcolm shifted in his seat uncomfortably, his thighs sliding against the leather, his hand subconsciously dropping away from his plate as if the polished surface had suddenly turned to ice. He forced his facial muscles to lock into a rigid, emotionless mask, but the subtle twitch in his left eyelid betrayed a sudden, internal tremor.
