Sam walked into the grand conference room of Sterling Corporation, where the department heads were already seated around the long, polished table. He wore a confident, almost smug expression as he took his place at the head of the table, a spot that had once been Alexander's. The tension in the room was palpable; the department heads, all seasoned professionals who had thrived under Alexander's leadership, were now faced with the uncomfortable reality of working under a man who exuded an unsettling mix of arrogance and ruthlessness.
"Good evening, everyone," Sam began, his voice oozing false cheer. "I'm sure you're all aware of the recent changes, and I'm here to lay down some new guidelines. Things are going to run differently around here."