The Breaking Point

The Sterling Tower study felt less like an office and more like a pressurized cabin at the bottom of the ocean. Outside the floor-to-ceiling glass, the city lights of the financial district blurred into a cold, indifferent tapestry. Inside, the silence was absolute, save for the rhythmic, metallic ticking of a desk clock—a countdown to the board’s next move.

Julian stood by the window, his silhouette a sharp, immovable blade against the night. He didn't turn when Elena entered. The soft, deliberate click of her heels on the marble floor was the only sound that mattered.

"The board is quiet," she said, sliding an encrypted tablet across the mahogany desk. "Too quiet. They aren't just waiting for the forty-eight hours to pass; they’re w

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