The rain hadn't let up when Gabriel stepped into the glass tower of Montgomery Gemini.
By the time he reached the top floor, the hum of the city was muted behind polished walls, replaced by the sharper rhythm of business.
The boardroom was already alive—laptops open, charts projected, the scent of coffee cutting through the sterile air.
The Managing Director, Mr. Clarke, was mid-sentence when Gabriel entered, every head swiveling toward him.
"Morning, Gabriel," Clarke said, adjusting his glasses. "We were just reviewing the Q3 numbers—sales are steady, but the uptick from the Seraphine collection hasn't matched projections."
Gabriel slipped into his chair at the head of the long mahogany table, posture straight, expression unreadable. He flipped open the leather binder in front of him, his pen tapping once before stilling.
