Amara stood at the head of the table, her confident smile wavering as she glanced around at the assembled department heads. Each one seemed more intimidating than the last steely gazes, crossed arms, and the kind of silence that screamed, Let's see what the boss's kid can do.
"Good morning," Amara began, trying to keep her voice steady. "I hope everyone's had enough coffee to be productive and not just passive-aggressive today."
A few eyebrows raised, but no one laughed. Tough crowd.
Helena stood by the door, arms crossed, watching like a drill sergeant evaluating a new recruit. Elara was in the corner, giving her best "you've got this" smile, which Amara found both supportive and mildly unhelpful.
"Let's dive in," Amara continued, flipping open the folder Helena had handed her earlier. "Today, we're discussing the marketing budget increase for the pilot project. I've reviewed the numbers, and I believe—"
