December 28, 2020
The morning air in Manila was crisp as Matthew stepped into the executive elevator of Sentinel Systems' headquarters. The holiday cheer still lingered in the air—festive decorations adorned the lobby, and employees exchanged greetings with the energy of people who had just enjoyed a long break.
But for Matthew, vacation was over.
He had spent the last few days indulging in personal matters—buying his dream house, spending time with family, and taking a much-needed step back from his usual workaholic tendencies. But Sentinel wouldn't run itself, and with the new year approaching, the gears of business had to start turning again.
The elevator doors slid open, revealing the top floor—his domain.
The large floor-to-ceiling windows framed the Manila skyline, sunlight bouncing off the polished marble flooring. The open-plan layout of the executive floor was modern and sleek, with glass partitions separating various sections.