CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR – UNDERCURRENTS

  Nia dressed in record time, grabbing her emergency kit – a tote bag filled with essentials she kept ready for just such occasions. As she raced out the door, she was already making mental lists, prioritizing tasks, and formulating contingency plans. The streets were eerily quiet as Nia drove to the office, the usual city lights replaced by an unsettling darkness. She pulled into the parking lot, noticing a few other cars already there. Clearly, she wasn't the only one called in for this emergency. The next 18 hours passed in a blur of frantic calls, tense negotiations, and creative problem-solving. Nia's desk became command central, her computer screen flickering with constantly updating spreadsheets and her phone seemingly glued to her ear. Her first priority was addressing the catering situation. Their contracted caterer's kitchen was in the affected area, leaving them unable to prepare the planned menu. Thinking quickly, Nia reached out to a local culinary school she had once