The sun hadn't fully risen, but Anastasia was already at her desk. The morning light filtered through her office windows, but it did nothing to warm the storm that was brewing in her heart.
She hadn't slept well, Santiago's words from the night before still echoed in her head.
"He almost died."
She shook her head as she opened her laptop, trying to push away the thoughts. 'Why now? Why tell me after all this time?' she thought, her fingers resting motionless on the keyboard.
Just then, her office phone rang. She jumped slightly, reaching for it.
"Good morning, Sir," she said, her voice calmer than she felt.
"Good morning, Ms. Stones," Alfonso Martinez replied, his tone clipped and formal. "Please come to my office now."
The call ended before she could respond.
She quickly straightened her suit, ran a hand through her hair, and headed to his office.
