I spotted Dominic Beaumont in the Horton Group's lobby as I was heading out. Our eyes met briefly across the crowded space before he disappeared into an elevator. Something in his expression told me he'd recognized me from yesterday's hospital incident, but I had no time to dwell on it.
The R&D department was in chaos when I arrived. Stress hung in the air like a heavy fog. My colleagues huddled around workstations, their faces drawn with exhaustion and panic. Empty coffee cups littered every surface, evidence of their desperate all-nighters.
Leo met me at the door, dark circles under his eyes. "You look surprisingly well-rested."
"Compared to everyone else here, that's not saying much," I replied, setting my bag down. "What's happening?"
He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "Caleb Sterling happened. He moved up our deadline by two weeks. Everyone's freaking out."
I surveyed the room. My team looked like they were on the brink of collapse. "When did he announce this?"
