Chapter 87

Claire's POV The email arrived on a Tuesday morning, its subject line deceptively simple: "Board Presentation Selection." My heart hammered against my ribs as I opened it, hardly daring to hope for what the message might contain. "Ms. White, after careful consideration, you have been selected to present our team's quarterly progress on the Eclipse Syndrome treatment protocol to the executive board on Friday, October 15th. This presentation will be delivered to senior management, department heads, and key stakeholders. Please prepare a comprehensive overview of current research findings, projected timelines, and budget requirements. Congratulations on this opportunity. - Dr. Patricia Hendricks, Research Division Head" I stared at the screen for a long moment, rereading the words to make sure I hadn't misunderstood. Selected. Out of eight senior researchers, I had been chosen to represent months of collaborative work to the most powerful people in the company. This wasn't just an opportu