Chapter 103

33rd floor, CEO's office. The afternoon sun was blazing outside. A sheer white curtain hung over the floor-to-ceiling windows, softening the golden light that spilled onto the floor with a gentle warmth. Edward sat behind his desk, bathed in that filtered sunlight. His whole presence felt dreamlike, almost surreal—untouchable, like a deity who didn't belong to this world. Alice stood about two meters in front of the desk, slight bow, voice calm. "Mr. Hawthorne." "Yeah." Edward’s expression was as steady as ever, his voice even cooler. "William, fill Alice in on the new project." Standing shoulder to shoulder with Alice, William Brooks looked like he’d just been caught off guard. His face twisted into an odd expression, eyes darting over to his completely composed boss—Edward, who just half an hour ago pulled him aside and asked him to pitch a previously-rejected project in front of Alice. And back then? The man was not this calm. Edward had looked the tiniest bit guilty when he muttere