The executive floor carried its usual atmosphere of polished confidence, yet Caro sensed something different the moment she stepped out of the elevator. Conversations stopped for a fraction of a second before continuing. Eyes lingered on her longer than they normally did. It was subtle enough that most people would never notice, but after months of navigating hidden enemies and carefully concealed alliances, she had learned to recognize the smallest changes. Someone had already begun moving pieces across the board again, and instinct warned her that today's attack would not come from where she expected.
