They walked through the corridors side by side.
Not rushed.
Not hesitant.
Just steady.
Employees stepped aside instinctively, nodding respectfully at Gabriel, then glancing again—longer this time—at Ethan.
Word traveled fast in buildings like this. Curiosity hummed quietly in the air.
Ethan felt it, but it no longer pressed on his chest.
Gabriel's presence anchored him, a calm certainty at his side.
Richard stopped in front of a wide glass door.
CREATIVE DESIGN DIVISION
Inside, the space opened into something warmer than the executive floors.
Sunlight streamed through tall windows.
Long worktables were scattered with sketches, gemstone trays, tablets, design boards.
Mannequin busts wore half-finished pieces. Screens displayed rotating 3D models of intricate jewelry.
The room buzzed softly with concentration.
Richard stepped in first. The room gradually noticed.
"Everyone," he said, voice carrying without force. "I'd like to introduce my son, Ethan Montgomery."
