The soft, familiar chime of the private express elevator echoed through the sunlit penthouse lounge at precisely eleven o'clock.
Aliya, who was sprawled comfortably across the sectional sofa reviewing raw footage on her tablet, perked up instantly. Beside her on the glass coffee table lay her camera rig and a half-empty glass of iced tea. In the kitchen, Catharine was casually drying a set of crystal glasses, while Jake stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, checking a brief market update on his phone.
The polished silver doors slid open to reveal Martha and Ryan Rivers. Martha wore a simple maroon cardigan over a floral blouse, carrying a familiar, foil-wrapped baking dish, while Ryan stepped out behind her, holding a folded newspaper and adjusting his casual jacket.
"Look who decided to grace us with their presence!" Aliya called out, setting her tablet down and hopping off the couch.
