It was a strange morning.
I woke up earlier than usual—no snoozing the alarm five times, no dragging myself through my shower. I even skipped my usual slow-brewed coffee and settled for a quick espresso just to get going. It was almost like I had something… exciting to look forward to.
But that couldn’t be it. I wasn’t excited. Of course not. Not for her.
Maurice Miranda.
It was her first day back at MCC.
And maybe, just maybe, I was… happy about it? Not thrilled. Not overwhelmed with butterflies or whatever nonsense Leland would tease me about. Just… happy.
I reached the office 20 minutes earlier than usual, nodding politely at the guards who gave me an odd look like “Is the world ending?”
I took the elevator up and made my way to my floor, where the usual early birds were already
