Chapter 10

The conference room was thick with tension. The shareholders' complaints and accusations buzzed in the air. On the big screen, the crashing green numbers felt like blows, each drop landing hard on Dominic's already frayed nerves. The tech team was stuck, unable to fix the sudden system lock. Meanwhile, the PR teams were drowning under the wave of backlash Zara had triggered. Everything was a mess and spiraling out of control. Dominic rubbed at his throbbing temples. His mind, usually sharp and clear, felt utterly scrambled. A thought he didn't want to face started to take shape. If Isobel were here, this wouldn't be happening. If she were the one hosting that launch… Once it surfaced, the thought wrapped around his chest like vines and refused to let go. If it were Isobel, she would've understood every technical term by heart and been able to improvise on the spot. She would've broken everything down in a way the audience could actually follow. If it were Isobel, she would nev