The morning sun hit the glass exterior of the Stern Department Store, but the glittering facade couldn't hide the rot festering within. Inside her top-floor executive suite, Karen Stern was in no mood to appreciate the view. She paced the length of her hand-woven rug, her heels digging into the fabric with every sharp turn. Finally, she reached her mahogany desk and slammed a thick stack of legal documents onto the surface. The sound echoed like a gunshot in the silent room.
"I still can't believe yesterday actually happened!" Karen shouted, her voice trembling with a mixture of exhaustion and rage. "What was that man thinking? Who does he think he is, treating me like some desperate, low-rent idiot!"
Veronica, her personal assistant, hovered near the heavy oak doors. She kept her back pressed against the wood, ready to bolt if Karen decided to start throwing the expensive crystal paperweights decorating the room.
