Chapter 8 - THE RECONSTRUCTIONI picked up the pearl necklace, letting the cool, smooth beads slip through my fingers.
They weren't just jewelry anymore. They were armor.
"Thank you, Director Vance," I said, looking up with a warm, genuine smile.
"Just doing our job, Claire," Vance replied, turning toward the door. "By the way, the board is waiting downstairs for the quarterly strategy meeting. Are you ready?"
I stood up, smoothing the lapels of my tailored blazer.
I lifted the necklace and fastened it securely around my neck. The clasp clicked shut with a satisfying, solid snap.
"Always," I said.
I walked out of my private office, down the private corridor, and toward the grand elevator that would take me down to the boardroom.
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Every step I took was firm, balanced, and completely unshakeable.
The concussion was gone. The pain was gone. The ghosts of the past had been laid to rest.
