“Twelve months happened.”
Brendan’s expression changed.
“Lily?”
Daniel stopped.
For exactly one second.
“It’s always been Lily.”
Brendan lowered his coffee.
“Daniel, if this is money, I know Victor’s been holding the director promotion over—”
“It isn’t money.”
“Then let them fix it.”
Daniel looked at him.
“They had a chance.”
Brendan knew about the remote request. Everyone on Daniel’s team did, though nobody had discussed it directly with him.
Three days in office.
Two at home.
Ninety days.
That was all Daniel had requested.
He had even offered measurable performance targets and weekly reviews.
Victor Hale denied it in two sentences.
Brendan leaned against the divider.
“You’re really leaving.”
“Yes.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.”
The honesty of the answer surprised both men.
Brendan looked at the photograph of Lily on top of the box.
Then he nodded.
“Take care of her.”
Daniel’s throat tightened.
“That’s the plan.”
“And yourself.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“One crisis at a time.”
He rode the elevator alone.
Fourteenth floor.
Twelve.
Ten.
Seven.
Three.
Lobby.
Every number felt like an accounting of something being surrendered.
He knew the building better than most people knew their houses.
He knew the elevator closest to the east stairwell arrived six seconds faster on average during morning rush.
He knew the espresso machine on the third floor made better coffee than the expensive one in the executive kitchen.
He knew Conference Room 11C overheated after three in the afternoon because nobody had ever properly fixed the thermostat.
He knew the east printer jammed almost every Monday.
He knew Andre on night security had twin daughters starting college in September.
He knew Maribel from facilities always kept spare batteries in the second drawer of her cart.
He knew the stairwell window between floors nine and ten had the best view of Portland before the morning glare hit the glass.
He had never told anyone that.
For twelve years Arcturus had become a place he knew without ever deciding to love.
Now people moved around him through the lobby.
Badges beeped.