The final walkthrough felt like treading through an alternate dimension, every step perfectly timed, every nod purposeful. The committee moved like a well-oiled, borderline-military machine through the massive villa grounds.
Masks were checked. Biometric scanners calibrated. Our head of security barked out final commands to his two off-grid teams. The invisible one already stationed in the shadows of the island. The visible one stationed like beautiful statues at key entrances.
Everything—everything—was silent, smooth, intimidatingly flawless.
Ashlyn ran the final brief like she owned the damn universe. Her voice echoed across the mirrored walls of the security chamber as she listed off final protocols: scent cues, AI surveillance calibrations, discreet guest assignments. At one point, the Guest Liaison brought up the mask symbolism again, and I zoned out just a little. Not from boredom. Just from… exhaustion.
I found myself wondering where Kael was. If he was already here.
