Jefferson's POV
I held my composure like a mask carved from granite.
Internally, rage burned through my veins, but externally I remained motionless. Malcolm knew exactly what game he was playing, walking into my boardroom uninvited. The bastard was savoring every second of this provocation.
He strolled toward an empty chair with deliberate slowness, settling in as if he belonged here. As if this was his domain instead of mine. The arrogance radiating from him filled the room like poison gas.
Every department head around the conference table shifted uncomfortably. They weren't blind to the electric tension crackling between us. These weren't naive employees - they could sense the unspoken war brewing beneath the surface of corporate politeness.
Gordon stepped forward, his throat clearing cutting through the suffocating atmosphere. "Now that everyone has arrived, we should proceed with today's agenda."
