Samuel tapped the pen against his desk, his brow furrowed as his thoughts raced. The board of directors' behavior was unnatural. They were always quick to find fault or push back against his decisions. Now, they nodded along like obedient schoolchildren.
Raver Lucas, his uncle, was never this agreeable. He usually loved to sprinkle in "family advice" as a thinly veiled critique. Daren Farrell, the COO, had been surprisingly silent. The man who once prided himself on operational transparency now had little to say.
Even Bart Brendon and Billy Braham—opportunistic directors who never acted without ulterior motives—had offered no objections. Edward Jones, the sharp and outspoken real estate expert, had barely raised a question during their last meeting.
It wasn't normal. Samuel leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepling in front of him. This wasn't loyalty or alignment. It felt orchestrated, calculated.
