Duty and Distance

Apex Group Office—40th floor, main director's room. Declan Ashbourne stood in front of the large window facing Crest City with the evening sky beginning to turn orange. His jacket was already off, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his tie slightly loose—a sign he'd been working hard since morning.

Callum entered with a thick folder in his hands, his face tense. "Mr. Declan, Rodrigo