MARK

I couldn't wait for this fucking Christmas night to end already.

The silence in the penthouse was heavy, pressing against my eardrums, but inside my head, it was loud. It was a symphony of numbers, plans, and the sweet, impending sound of victory.

I sat on the edge of the sofa, the tablet glowing bright in the dim room. My finger hovered over the glass screen.

"Do it," I whispered to myself. "Stop hesitating."

I tapped the CONFIRM button.

The screen loaded, a spinning wheel that seemed to take an eternity. My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

TRANSFER SUCCESSFUL.

AMOUNT: $8,000.

I let out a breath...