The screen of the black smartphone vibrated against the polished oak of the conference table.

It made a sharp, buzzing sound that seemed to rattle the water glasses.

I leaned forward slightly, my eyes tracking the bright notification on the lock screen.

The preview showed a message from an unsaved number: *The audit team is moving to the second-floor archives now. Get those files out.*

Andrew’s face drained of what little color it had left.

He made a sudden, instinctive jerk with his right hand toward the device.

“Do not touch that phone, Colonel Carter,” General Vance said, his voice dropping an octave.

Andrew’s hand hovered in the air, trembling slightly, before he dropped it back to his lap.

My father cleared his throat, his face flushing red under the harsh fluorescent lights of the briefing room.

“General, this is an administrative matter that has clearly been blown out of proportion by my daughter’s personal grievances,” my father said.

“We are talking about Andrew’s career, and more importantly, the reputation of our family.”

General Vance didn’t look up from the folder.