Malia stood at the edge of the conference room, her fingers pressed lightly against the cold glass of the window. The view of the city stretched before her, a maze of lights and steel that once felt like an endless opportunity. Now, though, everything felt like it was closing in—like she was trapped in a game she didn't understand, playing by rules that weren't her own.
The past few weeks had felt like a blur. There had been victories, yes—more than a few, even—but each success had only been followed by another challenge, another attack, another reminder that her world, both personal and professional, was not her own to control. And now, standing at this precipice, the tension between her and Nixus had reached an unbearable peak.
She turned her back to the window and looked across the room, where Nixus stood, leaning against the large mahogany table, his face drawn and serious.
