Amara's POV :
8:45 AM, fifteen minutes until I was supposed to walk into Roman Vale's office and show him my research.
I could still turn around, get back on the subway and keep doing this alone.
I stood on the sidewalk three blocks from Vale staring at the building, bag heavy on my shoulder with whatever I had decided to bring.
Not everything, not even close.
I left the carved rose photo at home, left Dad's watch, left my notebook with all the connections I was still trying to prove, left anything that felt too personal or too important to hand over to someone I did not trust.
I brought just enough to show I was serious but not enough to give everything away.
The employee list from 2008, some printed articles about Vale, basic notes about what Dad had been working on.
Safe stuff that would not hurt me if Roman decided to use it against me.
I checked my phone. 8:47.
If I was backing out, now was the time.
