Ares

The first day back at Sterling Tower felt surreal. The chaos of the last weeks had faded, leaving a calm I hadn’t experienced in years. The city outside was buzzing, but inside, the office was alive with purpose, not panic.

Leon walked past my office, tablet in hand. “All systems are fully operational. Stock is stabilizing. Vanguard’s accounts have been frozen.”

I nodded, scanning the skyline through the glass wall. “Good. But this isn’t just about numbers. It’s ...