The Monday morning came with a clear sky and a cool breeze off the lake. Aaron dressed in a dark suit, the kind he had not worn in months, and stood by the window for a moment, the lake flat and silver in the grey light. The swans were there, drifting near the dock, unchanged by the weight of the day ahead.
Sophie came down in a simple blouse and trousers, professional but not severe. She carried two cups of coffee and handed him one without a word. They drank standing by the window, the villa quiet around them, the world waiting.
"I'm ready," he said.
She looked at him — not checking, just seeing. "I know."
They drove to Century City in silence, the city growing around them as they left the quiet of the lake behind. The Keller Stone office was on the twentieth floor, glass and steel, the kind of place that inspired confidence. Jessica was already there, waiting in the lobby. She nodded when she saw them, her expression unreadable.
They walked in together.
