#Chapter 74: Cracks in the Frame

Amelia I got in early, too early, judging by the half-lit lobby and the absence of coffee in the breakroom. My badge gave a sluggish beep as I tapped into the secured hallway, and the blast of cold air that hit my wrists made me shiver. The whole floor smelled like toner and nerves, the kind of sterile anticipation that only ever hit before a major press event. I didn’t mind mornings like this. No chatter, no running lists of other people’s fires to put out. Just a checklist, a blank room, and the satisfaction of getting it done before anyone else arrived. The press room needed a full overhaul before the eleven a.m. address, new backdrop placement, a rotation in camera-facing seats, adjusted sightlines for the council's senior reps. I was down on the floor fiddling with the base of the podium when a pair of flats clicked into the room and a familiar voice followed. "You’re not supposed to be alone in here," Tasha said, amused. I looked up to see the communications assistant s