The Call to Hayes

Miles away, inside the Apex Media executive tower...

Harper walked onto the primary architectural planning floor to find Julian Vance holding court among a group of legacy structural engineers.

The young architect was openly mocking Jude's sudden absence from the studio. 

"It's obvious why the CEO isn't here today," Julian scoffed, leaning against a drafting table. "He knows his ridiculous 'Aegis Initiative' is going to be shredded by the federal red teams. He's hiding off the grid because he can't handle the impending humiliation. His luck with the Nanshan lots has run dry."

Harper's eyes narrowed. She marched into the center of the engineering bullpenز

"If you have the luxury of standing around analyzing the CEO's schedule, Julian, I assume you've finished the structural diagnostics on all thirty commercial soundstages?" Harper demandedز