The office buzzed with urgency the next morning. Teams worked overtime, phones rang incessantly, and every department was on high alert. The threat of Altus loomed like a dark cloud over the company. Alison walked through the halls, observing the employees' focused faces. Despite the intensity, she felt a flicker of determination. This was her chance to prove herself.
Alison entered the war room where Henry, along with several department heads, had already gathered. Charts, spreadsheets, and forecasts littered the walls, all outlining the moves Altus had made so far and how Henry's company could counter them.
Henry glanced up as Alison walked in. His expression was hard, focused, as if nothing existed beyond the crisis at hand. "Let's get started," he said, gesturing for her to take a seat. "We've got reports coming in from our top clients. Altus has been reaching out to them aggressively, offering undercut rates and incentives we can't match."
