Signs and Signals

January 3, 2025 — 8:00 AMSentinel HQ, BGC — Main Operations Floor

The year had changed, but the rhythm inside Sentinel remained relentless.

Screens glowed with progress bars and live site feeds. Analysts hunched over terminals as data flowed in from all corners of the archipelago. The Aurora Line's southern extension had officially broken ground, and Matthew was already coordinating with regional contractors. Every corridor buzzed with purpose.

Angel Cruz walked through it all like a conductor moving through an orchestra mid-performance—calm, focused, and subtly in control.

But beneath the tailored blazer and professional poise, something was different.

Small things.

She'd started turning down the office espresso shots.

She left meetings five minutes earlier than usual.

And every so often, in the middle of reviewing procurement contracts or reviewing HR drafts, her hand would drift to her stomach without her noticing.