Everything at Gray & Milton was… surprisingly calm.
Almost suspiciously calm.
We were already done with the final presentation for the Meridian Development Initiative—weeks of pressure compressed into one last, polished package—and now all that was left was refining the transitions, smoothing the visuals, and pretending we weren't all quietly exhausted inside.
But the atmosphere?
Yeah. Smooth. Steady. Normal.
Derrick spun in his chair the moment I walked in, like he had been waiting for a cue only he could hear. He gave me that look—half smirk, half challenge.
"Heard you guys are all set for the final presentation."
I dropped my bag on my desk and lifted a brow. "All set is a strong word."
"Strong?" He pushed off his desk with his foot, chair rolling slightly closer. "Kai, you're never 'almost set.' You're either fully prepared or silently panicking while pretending you're fully prepared."
I blinked. "That's slander."
"That's accuracy," he countered.
