As Arthur stepped out of the Urban Development Bureau, the air crackled with tension.
Across the plaza, under the cool shade of an ornate marble colonnade, three men in impeccably tailored suits stood watching him.
Their postures were rigid, and their expressions carefully crafted masks.
The tallest among them, a silver-haired man with a razor-sharp part, met Arthur's gaze with a smile that felt more like a warning than a greeting.
"Arthur Osborn," he called out, his voice smooth yet edged with something darker. "Congratulations! I hear the Bureau just handed you the keys to the kingdom."
Arthur slowed his stride, adjusting his collar as he replied, "Marcus Cole. I didn't realize Golden Arch had people waiting in the wings for this."
Marcus Cole, CEO of Golden Arch Construction, stepped forward flanked by his COO and lead lobbyist.
Up close, Arthur noticed the faint tension in Marcus's jaw and how his fingers flexed slightly at his sides.
