The moment the elevator doors opened onto the executive conference level, the silence hit Caro harder than noise ever could. Conversations that had been flowing seconds earlier cut off instantly, leaving only the low hum of fluorescent lights and the distant pounding of rain against the glass walls surrounding Blackridge Tower. Every pair of eyes in the corridor shifted toward her at once before quickly looking away again, but not fast enough to hide the suspicion lingering underneath. Caro felt it immediately in the stiffness of shoulders, in the subtle pauses between whispers, in the way one assistant hurriedly lowered her phone after clearly taking a photo of her standing there. The humiliation wrapped around her throat so tightly she almost turned back toward the elevator. Almost. But then the heavy boardroom doors farther ahead opened briefly, and she caught the sharp sound of raised voices inside before they slammed shut again.
Peter was already in there.
