The atmosphere inside Ashford Holdings had changed. For months, every conversation in the industry had carried an undercurrent of uncertainty. Investors had questioned leadership. Competitors had positioned themselves aggressively. Media outlets had searched constantly for signs of weakness among the largest corporations, but now those conversations were changing.
The shift had not happened overnight. It had happened gradually, one decision at a time.
Seraphina stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows of the executive conference room and looked down at the city below. Morning sunlight reflected against glass towers across the financial district. The room behind her was unusually quiet; the quarterly market briefing had ended thirty minutes earlier, and most executives would have celebrated.
