Aidan took a deep breath as he drove down the building. It had been a while since he had been there. Two weeks was a long time to be away from his workplace, but he was suspended to deal with the scandal.
The last time he’d been here, the halls had felt different. They were more foreboding, as whispers and sideways glances followed him like shadows after the scandal. Now, things felt lighter. Almost as if the building itself had forgiven him.
Aidan was directed to the conference room. In his mind, he pictured a table full of military officials, advisors, and key policymakers, all seated with stern expressions as they evaluated his return. He braced himself for the formality, rehearsing his responses and maintaining a calm exterior.
But when he entered, his steps faltered.
The room was
