Zoe's POV
The conference room was far quieter than I expected.
It was strange how a room filled with important people could feel so silent.
The organizers sat around a long oval table made of dark polished wood. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the London skyline, where glass buildings reflected the pale morning light. The room smelled faintly of coffee, paper, and expensive perfume. Everything looked pristine. Everything looked controlled.
Unlike me.
I sat beside Chloe with my hands folded tightly in my lap, trying to stop my fingers from trembling. Garrett sat on Chloe's other side, unusually quiet. Even he seemed to understand that this wasn't a moment for jokes.
At the head of the table sat the event director, Mr. Alistair Greene, a distinguished man in his sixties with silver hair and calm eyes that had probably witnessed a thousand careers begin and end.
Zara sat a few seats away from him.
