Her Plan

Alison stood alone in the boardroom, her heart pounding as Henry stared at her from across the table. His expression was unreadable, his eyes cold and calculating. She braced herself for whatever was coming next.

"You spoke well back there," Henry said, his voice calm but clipped. "But I'm not sure if you're offering your loyalty or another trap."

The words hit Alison like a punch, though she had expected something like this. His trust was fragile, a threadbare connection barely holding after everything she had done. She had made progress, but every step forward felt precarious, like she was walking on thin ice.

"I'm here to help, Henry," she said softly, keeping her voice steady. "I know I've given you every reason to doubt me, but I'm serious about this plan. I want to help your company win."

Henry stood from his seat, walking slowly toward the window, his back to her. "Why now? You didn't seem too concerned with my company's well-being before."