Chapter 20. Collision Course

The boardroom felt too pristine, almost sterile—an environment sculpted to exude perfection. Not that the temperature was off; the climate control hummed just as flawlessly as everything else Max Wolfe touched. The recessed lights hovered above in muted brilliance, casting a warm glow over the rich mahogany table. Polished panels of walnut reflected the sheen of freshly brewed espresso that lingered in the air, bittersweet and reassuring. Every detail spoke of elegance, control, comfort. Yet Alyssa sat at the far end, and nothing about her felt easy.

She held a glass of water like a lifeline, fingers curling around its base with intentional calm. The stack of notes before her—precise, numbered, meticulously aligned—stood as a small fortress against her own fluttering pulse. Evelyn’s gift, a green silk dress, draped across her curves like confidence personified, yet beneath the smooth fabric her heart sounded its own urgent cadence.

Twelve executives sat in silence, their