The conversations quieted as waiters began moving through the tables. No one had to ask. The service started on its own once everyone was seated.The first course arrived. Wild mushroom soup in a porcelain bowl, still steaming, with a basket of warm bread beside it. Gray picked up his spoon. "Finally."The savory warmth hit the moment it touched his tongue. He had not eaten since the night before and his body registered the food with quiet relief. He wanted to eat faster, but the room did not allow for that. "Mr. Adams," a reporter across the table said, keeping his tone light. "Now that the signing is official, what can the public expect? Will construction begin soon?"Gray set his spoon down, visibly annoyed at the sudden interruption."Yes," he said. "We're moving forward immediately. The groundwork needs to start as early as possible. That way, if problems come up, we have enough runway to deal

Gray leaned against the door the moment it shut behind him.He exhaled slowly and rubbed the back of his neck. The condo was quiet. Lily was still in class, making her own way home the way she had been doing for a few months now. She had assured him she was fine and so far she was. He had stopped worrying about it somewhere around the third week.He dropped his blazer on the couch and loosened his tie before sinking into the cushions with a heavy exhale. His shoulders dropped. His eyes went half-lidded as he stared at the ceiling.It was not the food or the length of the day that had worn him out most. It was the performance of it. The press conference, the lunch, the careful answering. Knowing when to dodge a question, when to give just enough, when to hold composure while someone across the table tried to rattle him.He pulled the stack of contact cards from his jacket pocket and held them up above his face."At least I have something to show for it," he said.Editors, columnists, r