Her confidence faltered, but then Daniel leaned forward, his gaze suddenly intense. Something shifted in his demeanor. Something shifted in the air. Her attention sharpened without permission.

“Actually…” Daniel’s voice cut through the tension, low and assured. He looked up from the papers, and for the first time, his eyes met Juniper’s directly. Not the quick, avoidant glances from before, but a real, sustained look that held her attention… though she wasn’t sure he was truly seeing her. There was something unsettling in those eyes, a darkness she couldn’t name. Sadness? Anger? For a moment, she felt his gaze might be looking right through her, fixed on something only he could see. “The complaint is more than adequate. It’s strategic.”

Juniper blinked, caught off-guard not just by his words, but by the sudden shift in the weight of his presence. His sandy blond hair caught the morning light streaming through the conference room windows, and she noticed for the first time the sharp line of his jaw, the way his English-cut suit perfectly rested upon his shoulders. Professional. Composed. Yet looking at her like she was simultaneously everyone he’d ever known and no one at all.

“You’ve anticipated the DOJ’s counterarguments,” he continued, his voice gaining momentum, his gaze lifting to encompass the room. “By framing the allegations around specific factual patterns rather than broad claims, you’ve made it harder for them to dismiss on plausibility grounds.” He paused, letting the words settle over everyone present. “It’s… impressive work.” A slight nod followed… not to her, but to the room itself, like some kind chess player who’d just decided which pieces were worth protecting?

Her breath caught. The room felt suddenly warmer. Focus. He’s just… he’s just explaining legal strategy. But her professional mask slipped for just a moment, and she found herself hyperaware of the space between them across the conference table, the way his eyes had shifted sideways into the distance when he said “impressive…” that slight crinkle at the corner suggesting a determination she couldn’t quite read.

“Thank you,” she managed, her voice steadier than she felt. She forced herself to look down at her notes, breaking the moment before it could become something more. Get it together, Juni.

She took a deep breath, trying to regain her footing. “As I was saying, our complaint provides specific factual allegations that, when taken as true, state a plausible claim for relief…”