The moment Liam finished outlining the final terms, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The weight of the discussion lingered between the three men, and although nothing explosive had been said, Whitlock felt as if something massive had settled into the air above them.
Since all that needed to be said had been said, the meeting wound down naturally. Liam rose from his seat with a calmness that did not match the storm he had left inside the CEO's thoughts.
"I'll wait for your response. I hope it comes soon—I'm not fond of delays," he said.
He didn't say it with pressure but the message was simple enough for even a fool to understand: he won't wait.
Whitlock stood up as well, masking the tension in his fingers as he extended his hand. They exchanged a firm shake. On the surface, it looked like the polite ending of a regular business meeting. In reality, Whitlock felt as if he was shaking hands with the start of a new era and one he had no control over.
