Aperture built the interview set to look safe.
Two pale chairs. A low table. Warm light without visible source. Nothing sharp enough to suggest conflict.
The effect required fourteen cameras and a Sterling-controlled platform.
I sat beneath the lights while the audience counter climbed past twelve million.
Behind the cameras, Aperture's executive producer watched three monitors.
Behind the control-room glass, Silas watched me.
The host smiled.
"Ivy, thank you for trusting us with your story."
"I agreed to an interview."
Her smile remained.
"Of course."
The first audience-response line appeared on the private display built into my table.
INTEREST: 62%
EMPATHY: 48%
DEFENSIVENESS: 19%
Aperture had given me the data because I required it.
They had not expected me to read it whi
