"Morning, sir."
The voice came before the knock had fully faded.
Craig looked up from desk, letting the morning light warm the edge of the polished surface. A few steps led up to it, giving him a slight elevation over the rest of the room. Thirty-two floors down, the world carried on in small, ordered movements. A river of people and cars. Up here, the office was calm, almost detached.
By the door, Nora held a leather-bound notebook and a tablet, diligent as ever. "The quarterly review notes are ready," she said, her voice calm and steady. "And the contracts from Safe Haven Global came through. Should I move forward with them?"
Craig didn't answer right away. His gaze drifted toward the city again, jaw tightening just slightly. He drummed his fingers once on the desk, a faint, unconscious rhythm, before he spoke.
"No," he said finally, voice even but distant. "We're going with our second option."
Nora blinked. "Would you like me to schedule a meeting with their team?"
