Chapter 324: Preludes and Shadows
The morning light filtered through the apartment windows, casting long shadows across the hardwood floor as I sat in what had become my makeshift office—a corner of the living room with a simple desk and chair. The quiet breakfast we’d shared was over, the girls having dispersed to their various activities. Camille was probably still in bed, claiming her job title was exhausting her though we all knew she just enjoyed being lazy. Alexis had retreated to her actual office to handle some administrative work, and Evelyn had vanished with one of her books, seeking solitude. Though I believe she’s been preparing for the meeting as well.
Sienna, on the other hand, had lingered the longest, cleaning dishes with methodical precision, but even she had eventually drifted away, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the weight of what was coming.
The soft chime of my phone broke the morning stillness. I glanced at the screen to see Anthony’s contact information, along with a message that made my stomach tighten slightly.
"Rey, these aren’t all of them, but I figured you’d want to see them early anyways, Boss."
I stared at the message for a moment, appreciating both Anthony’s foresight and his characteristic brevity. As an A-Rank Spy, he had a talent for gathering information that others couldn’t access, and his timing was impeccable. The UN meeting was still weeks away, but preparation was everything.
A soft knock at the edge of the living room made me look up. Sienna stood there, holding a steaming cup of coffee, her expression quietly observant.
"You look serious," she said, approaching with careful steps.
"Work," I said simply, accepting the coffee gratefully. The warmth of the cup against my palms was comforting, grounding me in the moment.
She studied my face for a moment, then nodded. "I’ll leave you to it," she said, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head. "Call if you need anything."
I watched her go, noting the way she moved with quiet confidence. I hadn’t ever noticed that her A-Rank Construction Worker strength was evident in every step even when she was trying to be delicate.
Turning back to my device, I opened the compressed files Anthony had sent. The first folder was labeled "Priority Profiles - UN Meeting Attendees," and I could already sense the weight of what I was about to learn.