The boardroom was quiet when Merlin walked in.
The long table gleamed under morning light, its silver inlays catching the glow. Behind the glass walls, the city stretched in endless bustle, but in here it was still, the air thick with expectation.
Merlin sat without waiting for invitation. Silence followed, a dozen pairs of eyes weighing him. He let it stretch. Silence wasn't weakness. It was a mirror.
Finally, the man at the head of the table leaned forward.
"Mr. Everhart." His voice was deep, steady, a sound that brooked no interruption. His hair was iron-gray, his shoulders filling the black suit with an authority that seemed to press down on the entire room.
"I am Adrian Kael, chairman of Invoke. I've led this company for over twenty years. And you…" His storm-colored eyes measured Merlin. "…have been a name on our ledger for months. A name we weren't sure existed. Until now."
Merlin met his stare without blinking. "…You don't have to wonder anymore."
