427: Strategic Entanglements

The cafe where Emma and Alex met was quiet, the muted hum of early afternoon chatter a soft backdrop to their tense reunion. Emma, who had initiated this rare face-to-face, was preemptively steeling herself for a conversation she knew could easily slide into personal terrains they both had avoided since their divorce. Alex, punctual as ever, arrived with a briskness that spoke of his tightly packed schedule. He greeted Emma with a nod, his professional demeanor firmly in place, betraying none of the personal history that lay between them. "I appreciate you meeting me on such short notice," Emma started, her voice steady, betraying none of the underlying anxiety about their meeting. Alex took the seat across from her, his eyes briefly scanning the cafe before returning to her. "Of course. Though I must admit, I'm curious about the urgency. What's on your mind, Emma?" Emma paused, choosing her words carefully. "It's about the current business landscape we're both navigating. Partic