A stillness of the air before the thunder booms.

After Beca left, Catrin remained seated for a long time. 

The servers came and went, quietly placing the dishes on the table before disappearing into the background. 

Yet, neither their presence nor the aroma of the food stirred her from her silence. 

Minutes passed, and then an hour. 

The dishes remained untouched. And eventually, Catrin rose to her feet and left. 

Her expression was unreadable. It was hard to tell what was going on in her mind, but there was surely something. The dark glint of her gaze was enough to evidence it. 

***

In New York, it was already late in the afternoon. 

After the meeting ended on the last day, it sent shockwaves through the corporate world. 

Winslow Global wasn't just any company —it was a global powerhouse, a conglomerate that dominated multiple industries across continents.