CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE - A Game of Patience

At first, the interactions were awkward and stilted. Cassius and Clarissa, still nursing their hurt feelings from the dinner revelation, sat stiffly across from each other at a chess board. The staff, unaccustomed to such casual interactions with their employers, moved hesitantly between the tables. But as the games progressed, the tension began to thaw. Cassius found himself chuckling at Clarissa's aggressive chess strategy, while she good-naturedly teased him about his overly cautious moves. At a nearby table, Mrs. Holloway was proving to be a formidable Scrabble opponent, much to the delight and frustration of her younger competitors. As the afternoon wore on, the laughter grew louder and more frequent. Even the most reluctant participants found themselves drawn into the spirit of friendly competition. By the time the first round of the tournament concluded, the atmosphere in the library had completely transformed. Riding the wave of success from the board game tournament, Mara w