A HUMBLING SILENCE

Marvin slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone, as his calm expression was unchanged.

As the CEOs gathered their things, murmuring quietly among themselves, Stella caught the glint in his eye—something was about to happen.

He turned away from the room slightly and made a call, his voice was smooth and steady.

"Hello, Mr. Marvin," came the voice from the other end, crackling faintly through the phone’s speaker.

"Hello, Mr. CJ," Marvin replied, with an even tone. "I hope they’re here?"

"Yes, sir. I’m at the Orion Dynamics building now."

"Good," Marvin nodded, glancing briefly toward the CEOs who were still exchanging pleasantries as they prepared to leave. "Get in quick, we’re in the boardroom."

"On my way," CJ confirmed before the line went dead.

Stella furrowed her brow. Mr. CJ? Who was he? And why was he at the Orion Dynamics building—her company’s headquarters? The CEOs, too, seemed perplexed.

Marvin's sudden shift in tone, the air of secrecy, all left a strange te