Monday Morning
The sun rose over Star Harbor, casting golden light across the quiet streets as a light breeze swept through. The city was beginning to wake—shops opening, people hustling to work—but for Miles Sterling, the rhythm never really slowed.
Inside his sleek black car, dressed in his usual sharp, understated style, Miles leaned back in the driver's seat as the engine purred down the tree-lined avenue leading to the university. His eyes flicked toward the dashboard clock. 7:42 AM.
He tapped the call button on the wheel. The line connected instantly. "Hello, boss," came June's crisp, alert voice on the other end. She sounded like she'd already been at work for hours. "Do we begin then?"
Miles spoke with calm precision. "Start employee onboarding for operations. Use trusted people. If we're short, get them from Reaper's HR pool. I want speed over paperwork."