Caspian

Everything was going perfectly.

I sat at the head of the long glass table, fingers laced loosely together, watching the investors nod with growing interest. Their eyes sparkled when I explained the final part of the proposal, and one of them even leaned forward with a smile that said, "We're in."

I was seconds away from securing one of the biggest international partnerships of my career.

Then my phone buzzed.

I glanced down discreetly — Marcel.

I hit the side button to silence it, but something in me hesitated. Marcel never called me during business hours, let alone twice in a row.

I leaned slightly back in my chair...