Chapter 62 Unfinished Business

• The conference room at Carter Company was a sleek, modern space, filled with natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the city. The long, polished table was flanked by high-backed chairs, and the room was already buzzing with quiet conversation as the representatives from McCloud Company arrived. It was a significant meeting, one that had been planned for weeks, as both companies were exploring a potential partnership.
• Daniel Carter stood by the window, his hands in his pockets, as he watched the McCloud team file in. He had reviewed the profiles of everyone attending, and one name had caught his attention—Mildred McCloud. He hadn’t seen her in years, not since a brief encounter at a party his family had hosted. She had been younger then, perhaps a bit more naïve, but smart and observant. He wondered if she would recognize him.
• As the last of the McCloud representatives took their seats, Daniel turned and made his way to the head of the table. He exchanged pleasantries with several McCloud executives, but his eyes kept drifting to Mildred, who was sitting near the middle of the table, flipping through some documents. She hadn’t noticed him yet.