Vortiger Tower – Penthouse Office, 6:48 A.M.
The city was still wrapped in a blue-gray haze when Cassien arrived at the penthouse. He didn’t wait for the elevator. The stairs, each step echoing, felt like a countdown. Five years of silence, betrayal, and fire had led to this morning, and nothing in him could afford hesitation.
He passed the glass walls, pausing only to glance at the skyline. The city looked calm, serene, almost mockingly indifferent. But he knew better. Every calm surface hid currents of danger, manipulation, and greed. And today, those currents would be forced into the open.
On the massive mahogany desk lay the red ledger, unopened since last night. Cassien didn’t touch it. Not yet. First, he needed clarity. First, he needed Selene.
Riviera Hotel – Suite 1603, 7:12 A.
