Leaving the board room, Emily walked down the long hallway toward her office, each step feeling heavier than the last. The atmosphere was thick, not just with the echo of her footsteps but with the weight of betrayal that pressed against her chest. The corridor, once a familiar and welcoming path, now felt cold and distant, stretching out endlessly. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, casting a sterile glow that seemed to drain the life out of the space around her. Ed followed behind her, his footsteps faster and filled with agitation as the tension of the recent meeting lingered in the air.
"Miss Johnson, are you really going to let her get away with that?" Ed's voice broke through the heavy silence, his words sharp with frustration. His face was tight with anger, his hands still clenched from witnessing the sham vote that removed Emily from her position.