The name was a double-edged sword. As Elian's name became synonymous with both piercing insight and unbreakable integrity, it attracted two kinds of clients: those who actually sought his unique clarity, and those who saw it as a trophy to be bought, or a threat to be silenced. The Kreston Construction offer lay in a shadowy middle ground—a test masquerading as an opportunity.
The project director, a man named Mr. Abayomi, had a smile too wide and a handshake too firm. His office, squatted on the rooftop of a half-built high-rise, was a temporary cave of dust and blueprints. The project itself was big: streamlining the supply chain for a new apartment tower. The price Abayomi asked was more than liberal; it was a tantalizing offer, sufficient to bring Elian's company to an all-time high o
