As I opened my eyes and reached for my phone, the first thing I noticed was a text message from Cyrus that immediately filled me with concern: "I’ll be back soon. Someone crossed our border, and they couldn’t get him to talk, so I have to take care of it. We’re enhancing security around the home as a precaution, so don’t be surprised to see more guards than usual. I love you." His words weighed heavily on my mind, prompting a mix of emotions as I pulled myself out of bed, quickly threw on a cozy hoodie and shorts, and made my way to the office. Once there, I tried to focus on the emails and paperwork that awaited me, but the gravity of the situation kept drawing my thoughts back to Cyrus and the heightened security measures he mentioned.
The banquet took place later today, and I was fill
