Tension

The tension in the room was thick, like a fog that refused to lift, and the silence was almost deafening. Morgan could feel the weight of a dozen eyes on her, all waiting, all judging. No one seemed eager to break the ice, so she decided to take the plunge.

She leaned forward, trying to keep her tone light. “So, I was thinking it might be nice to start with something casual. Maybe each of you could share a bit about your role here at Lupine Industries? I’m really interested in getting to know all of you and how you contribute to the pack’s success.”

There was a slight shift in the room, a few uneasy glances exchanged, but no one volunteered to speak. Morgan’s heart sank a little, but she wasn’t about to give up. She turned to the woman on her left, a striking brunette with sharp features that reminded her of someone Sophie had mentioned earlier.

“Isabella, right?” Morgan began, her smile genuine but a little uncertain. “I remember Sophie mentioning you’re in charge of our legal affairs. It must be quite a task, keeping everything in line.”

The brunette’s expression froze, her eyes narrowing slightly. Before Morgan could realize what she’d said, another woman—a blonde with a warm smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes—interjected, her tone laced with a hint of cold amusement. “Actually, Luna, I’m Marissa. Legal’s my department.”

Slightly, Morgan’s smile faltered as she realized her mistake, “Oh, right. Of course. My apologies, Marissa. It’s been a lot of new information to take in, and I guess I mixed things up.”

But the damage was done. The real Isabella, the woman she’d just confused with Marissa, was now leaning back in her chair, her expression guarded. “So, what does that mean exactly? Are you planning on shaking things up already, Luna? Maybe replace a few of us without even getting to know who we are first?”

The accusation was clear, and it hit Morgan like a ton of bricks. Her pulse quickened, and for a moment, she felt completely out of her depth. Before she could respond, she felt Sophie lean in slightly from behind her, whispering urgently, “Isabella’s the one in charge of finances, Luna. Marissa handles legal.”

Pausing for a moment, Morgan took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. “No, no, absolutely not,” she said quickly, her tone earnest. “That’s not my intention at all. I’m here to learn from all of you, not to make changes without understanding the full picture first. My apologies for the mix-up, really.”

As she glared at Morgan, Isabella didn’t seem entirely convinced, but she nodded slowly, her eyes still sharp. “Well, I suppose we’ll see about that, won’t we?”

Forcing herself to stay calm, even as her insides twisted with anxiety, Morgan said calmly, “Absolutely. I’m here to work with you, not against you.”

The room fell silent again, the unease still lingering in the air. Morgan could feel her confidence wavering, but she knew she couldn’t afford to show it. She glanced around the table, trying to gauge the reactions of the other board members, but their expressions were hard to read.

Staring at their stiff faces, Morgan forced a smile, determined not to let the tension throw her off. She had to keep the conversation going, keep the room from sinking into the awkwardness that seemed to be hanging over them like a dark cloud. “Okay, so let’s talk projects,” she began, trying to sound as upbeat as possible. “Isabella, I heard you’re working on the new branding initiative, right? That must be exciting, given how crucial it is for our public image.”

As her brows snapped together, Isabella’s eyes flashed, and for a moment, Morgan thought she might actually explode. “Branding initiative?” Isabella echoed, her voice dripping with annoyance. “That’s Clara’s project. I handle the financial restructuring. You know, the one that’s keeping this entire company from spiraling into bankruptcy?”

Morgan’s stomach did a nosedive, and she could feel her cheeks heating up. She’d done it again—another mix-up, and with the last person she should’ve crossed twice in a row. Isabella looked like she was about to lose her damn mind. Her fingers curled around the edge of the table, knuckles whitening, and for a second, Morgan thought she might actually stand up and walk out.

Clara, the actual person in charge of branding, gave a tight-lipped smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I appreciate the acknowledgment, Luna, but yes, Isabella’s right. The branding initiative is my department.”

“Right, of course,” Morgan stammered, her heart racing. “I’m sorry, Clara. And Isabella, I didn’t mean to downplay your work. The financial restructuring is obviously critical. I—”

But Isabella wasn’t having it. “Look, Luna,” she interrupted, her tone sharp and edged with frustration. “If you can’t keep straight who’s doing what around here, how are we supposed to have any confidence in your leadership? You’re stepping into this role, and we expect you to know what’s going on. We can’t afford to be led by someone who’s this... unprepared.”

The room went dead silent. Morgan could feel the eyes of every single woman at the table boring into her, and it took everything in her not to shrink into her chair. She wanted to fight back, to defend herself, but the truth was, she had messed up. Twice.

Before she could respond, Sophie, standing just behind her, leaned forward again, her voice a barely audible whisper. “Maybe we should end the meeting and regroup later, Luna,” Sophie whispered, her tone gentle but insistent.

Morgan nodded subtly, swallowing her pride. She knew this wasn’t the right time to push further, not when the room was teetering on the edge of open hostility. “I think Sophie’s right,” she said aloud, forcing herself to sound steady. “We’re all clearly passionate about the work we do, and that’s a good thing. But maybe it’s best if we take a break and come back to this with fresh minds. I’ll take some time to get up to speed properly.”

Then she stood up, trying to project calm authority even as her heart pounded in her chest. “Thank you all for your time today. I appreciate your honesty and look forward to getting to know each of you better. Let’s reconvene tomorrow and continue the discussion.”

Suddenly, Isabella pushed her chair back with a sharp screech, the sound slicing through the awkward silence. Without another word, she stood and walked briskly toward the door, her assitant trailing closely behind. The quiet murmur of the other board members and the shuffle of papers were all that remained in the room as Isabella and her secretary exited.

Once in the hallway, Isabella’s expression remained pissed. She strode purposefully to her office, her secretary’s heels clicking in a rapid, almost anxious rhythm behind her. Reaching her office, Isabella opened the door and swept inside, the assitant quickly following.

The door clicked shut behind them, and Isabella’s shoulders visibly relaxed for a moment before tension took over again. She flopped into her chair, the plush leather creaking slightly under her weight. Her secretary, a young woman with a stack of files in her arms, closed the door and approached the desk.

Sitting up striaght, Isabella slammed her hand on the desk, causing the stack of files her secretary carried to wobble precariously. “I can’t believe this,” she fumed. “That bitch has been here for what, a few minutes?! And already she’s pulling this kind of stunt! That mix-up wasn’t just an accident; it was deliberate! She’s trying to undermine me, I’m sure of it!”