Chapter 94. Breathe

June POV

A murmur spreads through the room before one brave staff member stands. “With respect, sir, the retreat games are always mixed. That way there’s no favoritism—or sabotage.”

Several people nod, voices chiming in agreement.

“Yeah, transparency.”

“It’s tradition.”

“That’s how it has always been done,”

Paul looks torn, his eyes darting between the CEO and the crowd. After a long, tense beat, Hermes leans back in his chair, jaw tight. He doesn’t say another word, but the muscle in his cheek twitches.

He turn to Paul, giving him a go ahead nod.

Paul exhales loudly, relieved. “Alright then, mixed teams it is. Each participant will draw a card from this box. The color determines your group.”

The line moves quickly, one card after another. My fingers tremble a little as I reach in and pull mine out. Blue. Tobias flashes his own—blue. I laugh out loud, bouncing on my feet. “Yes!”

We jump together, palms slapping again