Daniel's POV

The press cluster at the podium is fully packed. Cameras everywhere. Reporters shouting questions before I even reach the podium.

Nathan stands to my left. Gerald to my right. Behind us, the Sterling Holdings logo projects onto the screen—solid, unmovable, everything we almost lost.

I grip the podium edges. The steel is smooth under my palms.

"Thank you all!." My voice cuts through the noise. "I'll make a brief statement, then take limited questions."

The room quiets. ...