For a moment, they stood there, the strain between them evident. Claire searched his face, looking for some sign of the man she thought she knew. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, Ethan appeared, rushing down the hallway.
"Joshua!" Ethan called out, a wide smile spreading across his face. He walked up to them, his excitement obvious. "I have to say, you handled that meeting beautifully. The board needed to hear from you."
Joshua's stern face softened slightly, and he gave Ethan a nod of recognition. "Thanks, Ethan. I appreciate your help." He paused, then added, "You did a good job managing things in my absence."
Ethan smiled at the praise, though he couldn't resist a fun pout. "Well, someone had to step up while you were off dealing with... your personal matters," he said, his tone light but carrying an undertone of worry.
