Tuesday morning. 8:03 a.m.
The office felt different today.
Not louder. Not brighter.
Just… heavier.
Alex arrived at 7:58. Black coat draped over the chair. No tie. Coffee already waiting. Kasia's doing.
She stood by the window when he walked in.
Black blouse. Gray skirt. Obsidian necklace catching the light.
"Fistoria's amendment is official," she said. "Signed at 7:14 this morning. Clause 7.12b is now limited to serialized text only. No world-building claims. No retroactive rights. Side letter confirmed: 90-day notice for future changes."
Alex sat.
Opened his laptop.
"Confirmation email?"
"Sent. Their PR team is already spinning it as 'creator-first update.' Blogs are buying it."
He scrolled the dashboard.
Chronos Imperium still #1.
Latest chapter stats: engagement up 7%. Power stones steady.
Readers were settling into the rhythm pain, hope, preparation.
No rush.
No drop-off.
He closed the laptop.
"Joanna?"
