The Truth, Closer Than You Can See

/- Lewis -/

It's Friday, one of my best days. As I stepped into the grand lobby of El Corp, the headquarters of my empire, a sense of unease prickled at the edges of my consciousness. The usually bustling space was eerily quiet, save for the sound of muffled sobs that echoed off the marble walls.

Confusion etched itself onto my face as I surveyed the scene before me. My loyal employees, the lifeblood of my corporation, stood huddled together, their faces drawn and tear-streaked, their usual air of confidence replaced by an aura of despair.

"What's going on?" I demanded, my voice cutting through the heavy silence like a knife. But my words fell on deaf ears as my employees continued to weep, their grief palpable in the air around us.

Dread coiled in the pit of my stomach as I approached one of my longtime assistants, her shoulders trembling with emotion.

"Madeline, what's happened?" I pressed, my voice softer now, laced with concern.