The surface of my desk shimmered quietly as the afternoon light angled through the glass walls. I sat still in the chair - though it still didn't feel like mine - staring at the folder in front of me.
Executive briefing. Quarterly review. Board expectations. Performance index of sectors I didn't even know existed.
Cassian stood nearby, speaking calmly as he flipped through summaries. His voice was low and precise, a perfect blend of reassuring and authoritative, like an AI that has become sentient and was now superior to human, yet remained loyal and obedient.
"Here, you'll want to open with a short statement of appreciation to the board. After that, let people report to you. If you are unsure about anything, you can ask questions."
