Chapter 4 Cracks in the glass

The meeting stretched on, as these things often did. The topics were sharp and urgent-budget reports, technological advancements, personnel shifts. Juniper did her best to keep up, nodding at the right moments, adding in a few comments when necessary, all while feeling like she was skating on thin ice.

Somehow, she managed to convince the board that things were under control, that Project Arcturus-whatever it was-was on track, and that the legal team was dealing with the internal leak. She could sense their relief as the tension in the room slowly dissipated, and by the time the meeting wrapped up, Juniper felt like she had passed some unspoken test.

But when the final "thank you" was offered and everyone stood to leave, the man who had been at the head of the table lingered, watching her carefully. His eyes were too calculating, too knowing, like he was reading her with the precision of a trained investigator.

"Ms. Voss," he said quietly, his voice low. "Could you stay for a moment?"

Her heart skipped a beat. There was no way she could leave now. Not with this man still watching her, scrutinizing her every move. The others filed out, murmuring amongst themselves, leaving her alone with him.

"Yes?" she managed to say, trying to keep her voice steady, even though her stomach was in knots.

He walked toward her, his hands folded in front of him. His presence was commanding, yet unsettling. There was something about him-a sharpness in the way he looked at her that made her feel like she was a subject under a microscope.

"I'll get straight to the point," he said, his tone suddenly cold, professional. "There's something about you today, Selene. Something different."

Juniper stiffened, every muscle in her body going on high alert. "What do you mean?"

He stepped closer, his dark eyes never leaving hers. "You don't usually... hesitate. You're usually sharp. Precise. And today..." He let the sentence trail off, as if he was giving her space to finish it for him.

Her mind raced. She had to think fast. There was no room for error.

"I've been working nonstop lately," she said smoothly, forcing a small smile. "I suppose I'm just a little... distracted. It's been a long week."

The man didn't immediately respond. He just continued to watch her, as if weighing her every word. There was an uncomfortable silence that stretched between them. Then, finally, he nodded, though it was clear he didn't entirely buy the excuse.

"I hope it's just that," he said slowly. "Because if there's one thing I know, Selene, it's that this company relies on its leaders to be unwavering. We can't afford distractions, not with everything that's at stake."

The weight of his words pressed down on her, and for a moment, she almost felt like she was drowning in the sea of Selene Voss's life. This woman's power, her reputation, her responsibilities-it was all too much. It felt like it was suffocating her.

"I understand," Juniper said, her voice tight. "It won't happen again."

The man didn't say anything for a beat, just watching her with a look of quiet assessment. Then, finally, he nodded.

"Good. Keep it that way."

He turned on his heel and walked toward the door, his footsteps purposeful. But as his hand rested on the door handle, he paused and glanced back over his shoulder.

"Oh, and Selene," he said, his voice laced with an unspoken warning. "Remember who you are."

The door clicked shut behind him, and Juniper was left standing there, heart pounding in her chest. She hadn't realized she was holding her breath until the sound of the closing door broke the tension in the room.

What was that about?

She exhaled, her legs feeling weak beneath her. She was suddenly more aware of the strangeness of her surroundings. The boardroom, the sleek furniture, the bright lighting-all of it felt foreign to her now. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

Something about this whole situation was wrong. The way people spoke to her. The way she moved through this life. None of it felt like it belonged to her.

But what if it did?

What if she was really supposed to be Selene Voss? What if this was her life now, and she simply had to adapt? The thought made her stomach churn. She had no idea who this woman was, or what she had been through, but she knew one thing for certain: she didn't want to be her.

She didn't want to be someone else.

But as the afternoon wore on and she shuffled back to her office, the reality of her situation settled in like an anchor.

She was stuck.

There was no going back now.

Juniper sat at Selene's desk, staring at the pile of work in front of her. A stack of files, a few reports, and a brightly-colored sticky note with the words "Call Rayne" scrawled on it in Selene's handwriting.

She picked up the phone, dialing the number quickly, her fingers still trembling from the encounter with the board.

The phone rang twice before a sharp voice answered.

"Rayne."

Juniper swallowed. "Rayne? This is Selene Voss. I'm-"

"Is everything alright?" Rayne's voice was immediately laced with concern, a sharp edge that made Juniper's heart race.

"Everything's fine," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "I just wanted to touch base on the status of the... the integration project. Have there been any updates?"

There was a long pause on the other end of the line before Rayne responded, her voice colder now.

"We'll need to meet in person to discuss the next steps. The situation's... changed. I'll send you the details."

"Alright," Juniper replied, her mind spinning. There was something in Rayne's tone, something that sent an uncomfortable chill down her spine. "Thank you."

She hung up the phone, still feeling the weight of the conversation in her chest. There was something off about this whole situation. Something hidden.

But she couldn't let herself falter now. Not when she was so far in.

She grabbed the pile of reports and started sorting through them, her eyes scanning the first one-nothing she understood. Her mind raced as she tried to keep herself together, but everything felt slippery, like sand running through her fingers.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Yes?" she called out.

A woman's voice responded. "Ms. Voss, the car is ready for your meeting."

Juniper stood up, swallowing back the knot in her throat. The meeting with Rayne. The woman who was part of this life. The life that wasn't hers.

She squared her shoulders and moved toward the door.

One step at a time, Juniper. Just one step at a time.