masterpiece of con

reflection of the power seated within. Along the length of polished wood sat twelve of the most influentia

lent the moment

ike silence incarnate-measured, cold, inevitable. The sharp cut of his black suit

ask for it. It folded around h

behind him with a soft c

able, pulled back the chair, and

ss the table, slow an

at. A command that di

Arturo Vasquez cleared his thr

said

ain patterns-disappearances from negotiations, sudden acquisi

remaine

loosening his tie slightly. "Some have be

ng. He didn't blink. Did

asking questions, sir. About you. Your metho

t to her. She fr

hed her. Long enough for ever

they leave damage. And the board-some members feel it's time to make a formal

nally lea

ertainty?

. Smooth. As prec

e not transparent. That you don't follow protocol

ansparency?"

na said quickly. "Just from the compa

his fingers, c

nk I'm hidin

nk you're hiding. It's about what they don't und

itched-almost a

ushed his chair ba

built on comfort. It

, deliberate and slow. Every step

he said. "I don't need to assure peopl

ested. But there was something underneat

Arturo, "they can go work for someone who has a

at stiff

. His footsteps ba

gy for being effective, I'll accept your resig

the table again, turned

hen the same people you're tryi

ilence f

ne s

is jacket. "This

ut without

eathe until the doo

to the hallway, a

e a wave through the office floor. Conversations faltered. Heads dipped in silen

r San

evenin

A nod would have

musement lit his eyes-dark as ink, rimmed faintly in s

ar and respect were not tools. They were inst

lert. At the private elevator, the doors whispered open,

pped i

mprint. No buttons. No commands. I

lection. The mirrored walls returned his stare-flawless, poised... and somehow

, his secretary was already waiting-ba

ing wa

e could. "This arr

fted with intere

ier. Security found it... ins

followed was de

window. One hand inched toward his si

nd d

and the envelope was

Cream-colore

ht of it was wrong-heavier than

lick of his thumb and pulled o

fingers, the edges soft with age, as though it h

r

ow what

re c

lipsed by a single drop of blood. Etched in bl

stare

ly, his li

, but something

t his throat-a low,

," he said, as if com

a blank sheet from the drawer. The pen flowe

t in

e envelope and pressed it closed with t

epped forw

the desk, once. "Send it through our usual channels. N

with a nod and van

ice fel

ed into his pocket. The city sprawled beneath him-rivers of lig

't fear

wasn't

a rem

thing the world had forgotten. Something it w

n at the symbol on the parchment a

y k

thought

come, h

m bleed

led, the silence

th

anced through his skul

ge of the desk. It was gone in seconds-but

t p

f now

not

th steady-but his eyes no longer

ng had

time in years... h