Mason sat behind his desk, flipping through a folder while the clock ticked gently above the shelf behind him.
The glass door opened slowly after a soft knock, and Sandra and George stepped in.
"You asked to see us, Sir," Sandra said as they both stood upright before him.
"Yes," Mason said calmly, placing the folder down and looking up. "Come in, sit down."
They obeyed without hesitation, the room quiet except for the hum of the central air.
"I've decided something important," Mason began, locking eyes with both of them.
"You're going to take over the Alfonso Martinez project, the one Anastasia was handling before her disappearance."
Sandra blinked. "Sir, if I may ask…" she began gently, her voice almost shaky. "Why do you think we should handle it and are you giving up on finding her already?"
His eyes lowered. "No, Sandra. I'll never give up. But I need this handled with trust. With care. For her."
