Chapter 54

Third-Person POV

The morning light poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Alexander’s office, turning the polished wood of his desk golden. He stood with his back to the room, hands clasped behind him, watching the city awaken sixty floors below. The view from Pierce Tower offered a perfect vantage point to observe Manhattan without being observed in return, a fitting metaphor for how he preferred to operate in all aspects of life.

Behind him, Sarah cleared her throat softly. She had perfected the art of commanding his attention without seeming to demand it.

“The morning briefing is ready,” she said, tablet poised in her hands. At thirty-two, Sarah Matthews maintained the efficiency that had made her invaluable to Alexander’s rise. Brown streaked her dark hair, but her mind remained razor-sharp, her loyalty unquestioned.

Alexander turned from the window. “Begin with the market response.”

“Pierce Technologies stock opened at a record high