Gideon stood up, his movements fluid and deliberate. He glanced at Ryder, who was still seated, lost in thought. Without a word, Gideon turned and walked away, leaving Ryder to his deliberations.
As he stepped out of the building, Gideon was immediately swarmed by a sea of reporters, all clamoring for a statement. The air was thick with the hum of cameras and the shouted questions of the press corps.
"Axel, what's the latest on the investigation?"
"Can you confirm or deny the allegations of corruption?"
"Axel, how do you respond to the claims of wrongdoing?"
But Gideon remained silent, his face a mask of calm determination. He pushed through the crowd; his eyes fixed on the black sedan waiting at the curb.
The chief security officer, a towering figure with a stern expression, opened
