Daniel’s device echoed again, making him flinch as he shoved it deep into his pocket. His shoulders tensed beneath his pinstriped drape, composure slipping for just a heartbeat.

“I’ll head to the basement,” Sophia cut in smoothly, her eyes darting between them as she backed into the elevator.

Juniper swayed toward Daniel as she caught the strain beneath his polished surface, even as he nodded a quick agreement to Sophia. The elevator doors sealed shut with a soft chime, leaving them in a silence that felt borrowed against sensible reasons.

“I don’t think I can do this,” Juniper said softly, her voice carrying in the quiet of the abandoned floor. The cleaning crew had finished their rounds hours ago, leaving only their devices’ glow and a single desk lamp to illuminate the space. The trial schedule notification seemed to pulse with quiet menace, its urgency amplified by the media headlines flowing beneath it. “They deserve better than a rushed defense…” Her words hung in the still air, meant only for Daniel and the shadows of their makeshift war room.