Monday morning arrived with a stillness that felt heavy. The offices of the newly christened *Aurelia Capital Partners* sat high in a glass-and-steel monolith overlooking the Central Plaza. Inside, the conference room smelled of cold rain and expensive leather.
The five of them sat in silence for a long minute. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but the kind that precedes a storm. Marcus, Adrian, Leon, and Noah all looked the part—tailored suits, steady gazes, and the posture of men used to commanding space. Jake sat to Marcus's right, wearing his charcoal jacket, feeling the physical weight of the decision they were about to formalize.
"First order of business," Marcus said, his voice cutting through the quiet. "The structure is set. The legal filings for Aurelia Capital Partners are complete. Now, we need a point of authority. We may move as a unit but there has to be a face for that unit."
