Rose’s POV
The newsroom was never silent, but today it felt louder than usual. Phones rang incessantly, chairs scraped against the floor, and excited murmurs floated from every corner. Something was happening—something big. As I stepped out of the elevator, I could feel the buzz in the air, like a current waiting to strike.
Before I could ask anyone what was going on, I heard Mr. Clarke’s booming voice echo across the floor. “All hands to the conference room! Now!”
I followed the stream of employees filing into the glass-walled room. My stomach churned with unease. Usually, Mr. Clarke’s impromptu meetings involved bad news, budget cuts, or a reprimand. But the energy in the air felt different.
Inside, the room was packed, every seat filled, with latecomers standing against the walls. I
