The early afternoon sun cut through the tinted floor-to-ceiling glass of Golden Investments' corner suite, casting long, sharp shadows across the dark mahogany desk. Outside, the financial district moved with its usual frantic pace, entirely oblivious to the seismic shift that had just rattled its foundation.
Jake sat behind his desk, swirling two fingers of scotch in a crystal tumbler. Opposite him, Alice Chase stood holding a secure ledger pad, her demeanor a mix of high-adrenaline fatigue and deep satisfaction.
