The mahogany desk in Governor Lucas Vance's study was stained crimson. Blood pooled beneath scattered policy documents as I watched from my table at the upscale restaurant, completely unaware of the drama unfolding across the city.
"The pasta here is excellent," Serena said, twirling linguine around her fork. "Much better than the hospital cafeteria food I used to eat."
Maya nodded in agreement, cutting into her grilled salmon. "It's nice to have a peaceful dinner after everything that happened at the mall."
I took a sip of wine, enjoying the calm atmosphere. The restaurant's soft lighting and quiet conversations created a perfect contrast to the chaos we'd left behind.
Back at the Vance mansion, servants rushed through the elegant hallways in panic. The governor's secretary, Mrs. Chen, burst through the study doors to find her employer collapsed over his desk.
"Sir!" she gasped, then immediately turned to shout down the hallway. "Call Dr. Webb! Now!"
