Elliot Crane was standing in the hallway, talking to Arthur Vance in low, hushed tones.

They both stopped talking when they saw me.

Elliot looked at my face, then at the blue folder in my hand.

“Arden,” Elliot said, his voice quiet.

“Is he still inside?”

“He is,” I said.

“He wants to negotiate a resignation.”

Elliot shook his head slowly.

“It’s too late for that,” Elliot said.

“The board has already made its decision.”

“I’m sorry it came to this.”

“I’m not,” I said.

I walked past them, my heels clicking on the polished marble floor.

The office was quiet, the employees watching me from their desks with curious eyes.

They knew the empire was falling, even if they didn’t know the details.

I reached the elevator bank and pressed the down button.

The metal doors reflected my reflection, pale but steady.

I could feel the weight of the blue folder in my hand.

The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open.

I stepped inside and pressed the button for the lobby.

As the elevator began to descend, my phone buzzed in my coat pocket.