Kian woke the next morning with a clear sense of purpose. The weight of his new role within the task force hadn't lessened, but it no longer felt suffocating. Adrian's confidence in him was like armor, and Kian was determined to prove to himself—and to Harlow—that he could handle whatever came next.
By the time he arrived at the office, the air was thick with tension. The buzz of whispered conversations filled the room, but Kian blocked it out, heading straight to his desk.
It didn't take long for the first signs of trouble to appear.
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An email notification popped up on his screen.
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Subject: Revised Data Submissions
Kian,
Effective immediately, all data analytics reports must be submitted directly to my office before being shared with the task force. Please ensure compliance by end of day.
Best regards,
William Harlow
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