Threat

The days passed with an uneasy calm between Alison and Henry. Though the heartfelt apology had somewhat softened the tension, their relationship remained on fragile ground. Henry kept his distance, and while he didn't outwardly display his hurt, his guarded demeanor spoke volumes.

It was in the midst of this uncertain peace that a new storm loomed on the horizon.

Henry sat at the head of the boardroom table, his face etched with concentration. The executive team was gathered for the weekly meeting, but today, the air was unusually charged.

"Let's cut to the chase," Henry said, his voice firm. "We've got a problem."

The room fell silent as Henry's head of operations, Mark, stood to address the team. "A new competitor has entered the market, aggressively targeting our biggest clients."

He clicked a remote, and a presentation illuminated the screen behind him. The logo of a rising tech conglomerate, Altus Innovations, flashed ominously.