Obsidian Veil

t different th

Not louder. J

nversations dipped half a second too late. Eyes lingered a fraction longer than they shoul

ept w

. Even when something felt wrong, she had

r assistant greeted quick

ied, already moving. "An

n. Chidera is already

urse

ng in a steady rhythm that matched the pace of her thoughts. La

t forg

om buzzed with

otes scattered. Chidera stood near the screen, explaining something

t the door for a

st repeating

s thi

saying, pointing to a chart, "you'll notice the deviation doesn't star

ned. "But that could jus

ly. "It could. But if it repe

er ste

es it become

om wen

tartled just aware. "

for a second, then ga

le. "Everyone, listen carefully. In this company, we don't just rea

t tension moved

It's to question it. Understand it. Challenge it. Beca

t that

toward Chidera. "Walk m

etching out a simplified version of the financial flow. As he spoke,

. Observan

usly pe

Then you check if they align with operational changes.

urved slightly. "

her eyes.

hy

ing innocence

es shifted u

fer d

ding her arms. "That mindset will either make y

sed through his expression

that risk

, Jennifer s

ded once. "G

inued, but the e

ssary, pushing them harder than they expected. She di

her father ha

had surv

the trainees looked mentally ex

red as the ot

ll," Jennifer said,

you,

a moment. "You see

try

etly. "You do. The

n't re

head slightly. "Wher

ief

ation,"

a simpl

si

t it go. "Keep observing. But remember seeing s

, ma

o leave, th

can I ask

aised a br

andle everyth

ed more directly

"Because if I don't,

d slightly. "N

l, humorless smile.

pression said he wasn

," she said, dism

, ma

oom e

settle

aring at the board where Chidera's notes st

hone

d to check to

, she

e building som

tightene

before she coul

: "It ha

peared almost

h

ttracts attention.

ngers

d instinctively

e muttered un

n't wa

was

icked up her tablet, forci

ffice had returned

Meetings

rm

no

wing Chidera's updated analysis

umb

al

icant on

fami

yboard, pulling up the previous reports

it was

struc

pat

lse qu

a," she

moments la

at t

y over the desk. Their shoulders nearl

ou se

ned the

expressio

he said

ed slowly. "It

lving,"

ns whoever is doing th

le

av

mfor

ightened. "W

ardened slightly.

wned.

too soon, they'll disappear. I wan

d that. Then nodd

ent everythi

, ma

d to lea

ide

pau

e briefest moment. Then s

ed in his expres

he

crept in

the staff had gone. The city lights flickered to

ce felt

qu

almost unconscious

pack

l th

it

st

ed o

us

hovered over

h

ft s

lo

eno

ething s

fer f

ed slowly ac

th

xactly where

d

ling li

areness from

asn't

t began

l

sur

tro

back from

ed toward

stop

er d

tain there had be

gle folded pi

's breat

heard any

seen

ly, she walked

ed i

lded

e wo

same neat, prec

getting

ip tig

uddenly fe

ld

he worst p

ead slowly, eyes scan

the fi

investigating

s part