The Titan Corp executive boardroom was quiet, soundproofed to the point of stillness. Thick-paneled walls lined with frosted light strips gave everything a clean, corporate gloss—expensive but sterile. A long obsidian table stretched across the center, untouched bottled water placed evenly along its surface. One side of the room bore Titan's insignia in matte silver; the other, a large screen already flickering with the Helix Media logo.
Elara sat two seats from the end, blazer pressed, notepad ready. She wasn't used to these meetings—her badge usually scanned her into QA lounges, not boardrooms. But this wasn't a usual week.
Across the table, Marion, Titan's head of PR, adjusted her earpiece and kept her voice even as the video call loaded.
"Remember," she murmured to Elara, "You're here just as requirement. We're showing Helix that every department is represented, that we're taking this seriously. Don't speak unless directly addressed."
Elara gave a small nod.
