bChapter /bb236 /b

    bOLIVIA’S /bPOV

    The soft chime of my phone rm filled the bedroom, pulling me from a warm, lingering dream. For once, the heaviness that usually bsat /bbon /bbmy /bchest in the mornings wasn’t there. Instead, a quiet smile tugged at my lips as I rememberedst night–Stephanie’sughter over wineb, /bthe two of us on bthe /bbalcony, the city lights winking below like a thousand secrets. It had been exactly the sort of evening I’d needed: light, indulgent, band /bbfree /bbfrom /bbthe /bconstant buzzing pressure of my uncle.

    I stretchedzily under the silk sheets, the sunlight spilling in through the sheer curtains catching on the diamond bracelet I had carelessly bleft /bbon /bmy wrist. My head felt clear, almost buoyant. Today wasn’t a day for stress–it was a day to set everything in perfect order for tomorrow’s bceremony /bbat /bbthe /bnewly opened branch. The kind of event where eyes would be watching, cameras shing, and whispers filling the air. My name would be bon /bbpeople’s /btongues, and I intended for every syble to be spoken with admiration.

    I reached for my phone, swiping through the early messages. Damien had already texted–punctual as always. Morning. Breakfast bin /bbtwenty/bb? /bbGuess /bbit /bdidn’t take him long to return back to the house, I could picture him in the kitchen already, sleeves rolled up, pretending to read the business section while the coffee machine hummed behind him

    I replied quickly. On my way.

    After a quick shower, I slipped into a pale cream blouse and tailored cks–elegant but not ostentatious. I didn’t need bto /bwear my power dresses today. bI /bneeded to move freely, to check every detail, tomand without looking like I was trying. My hair was swept back, a soft rose tint on my lips. I nced in the mirror and smiled–polished, calm, in control. Exactly how I wanted the world to see me.

    The scent of fresh coffee greeted me as I stepped into the kitchen. Damien was at the counter, cing ba /bte of sliced avocado and poached eggs in front of my seat

    “Morning,” he said, his voice low, his eyes scanning my face. “You look… happy. That’s dangerous. What’s the reason?”

    1 slid into my chair, picking up my fork. “Stephanie came into town yesterday. We had wine. Talked. It felt good to just… not think about thepany for a few hours.”

    Damien smirked faintly. “Really? So that’s where you ran off to all day. I am bummed that I didn’t get the chance to say hi but am also d. Even though yourpany’s not going to let you forget it exists, Esther has been calling me since 7 am”

    I froze with a forkful of avocado halfway to my lips. “Esther? What does she want at this hour?”

    “Something about the inspection for tomorrow’s ceremony,” Damien said casually. “She said she’d call you directly if you didn’t pick up soon.”

    She was thedy I recently hired to make arrangements for tomorrow, Esther had a way of turning even the smallest hup into a minor crisis. I set my fork down, wiped my hands, and grabbed my phone.

    “Esther,” I said the moment she answered, my voice crisp. “What’s going on?”

    “Good morning” Her tone was falsely sweet, the kind people use when they’re already stressed. “The branch just had the final inspection ahead of tomorrow’s event, and the inspector gged a few things. It’s nothing disastrous, but I thought you’d want to know immediately.”

    I leaned back in my chair, narrowing my eyes. “Define a few thingsb./bb“/bb” /b

    “A section of the lobby lighting is still out, the recement fixtures didn’t arrive yesterday as promised. And the catering team misced bpart /bof the dessert order. Also…” she hesitated, “…there’s an issue with the sound system in the conference hall. Static interference. The technicians bare /bon–site

    now.”

    I inhaled slowly. These weren’t disasters, but they were blemishes. And I didn’t tolerate blemishes, especially not when journalists, investorsb, /bband /bbhalf /bthe city’s corporate elite would be in attendance tomorrow.

    “Esther, I’ll be at the branch within the hour,” I said. “Have everyone ready for me. I want the lighting situation resolved bbefore /bI barrive/bb, /bbthe /bbcatering /bmistake fixed before noon, and I want to hear from the technicians personally about the sound systemb. /bUnderstoodb?/bb” /b

    b1/3 /b

    Sal 10

    Chapter b236 /b

    b“Of /bbcourse/bb,/bb” /bshe replied quickly.

    I ended the call and looked at Damien. He raised one eyebrow. “So much for a peaceful morningb./bb” /b

    “Peace is for people with nothing to prove,” I said, standing. “Tomorrow has to be perfect.”

    By the time I arrived at thepany branch, the sun was high, gleaming off the ss fa?ade stepped out of the car and into the lobbyb, /bthe familiar brash /bof ownership pride mixing with the sharper edge of scrutiny. The lighting issue was immediately visible–the far side of the lobby looked dimb, /bbshadowed/b. as if the space had suddenly aged a decade.

    “Uneptable,” I muttered.

    ra was waiting for me, tablet in hand, heels clicking briskly as she walked beside me. She looked flustered, which only made me slow my pace deliberately. Panic never fixed problems–it only made them worse.

    “The lighting team swears the recement fixtures will be here within the hour. I’ve asked maintenance to prepare for immediate instation,” she said quickly.

    “Good. And the dessertsb?/bb” /b

    “Already corrected. The head caterer is personally delivering the recement pastriester today.”

    “Pastries,” I repeated with a sigh. “Tomorrow’s menu isn’t just food, ra. It’s an extension of ourpany. Make sure everything arrives on time, intact, and disyed exactly as nned. No improvisations.”

    “Understood,” she said, scribbling notes.

    The sound system was next. In the conference hall, two technicians were crouched by a panel of tangled wires, their brows furrowed in concentration. The static interference echoed faintly from the speakers above, like an angry wasp trapped in a jar.

    “Fix it,” I told them simply. One of the technicians looked up, startled by my presence, but nodded quickly.

    From there, I moved through the building like a shadow that knew every cornèr checking the floral arrangements (the lilies in the reception area looked wilted and were immediately reced), reviewing the seating n for the VIPS (I swapped two names, certain people deserved better proximity to the stage), and inspecting the press area for tomorrow’s journalists. Every adjustment was small, almost invisible, but together they would create the illusion of effortless perfection.

    It was nearly 2 p.m. when I finally allowed myself to sit in the executive lounge with a coffee. Damien had joined me, leaning back in his chair as if he’d been waiting for me to slow down all day.

    “You realize you’ve scared half the staff into moving faster than they thought humanly possible,” he said with a faint grin.

    I stirred my coffee, inot /ilooking at him. “Good. Fear is a wonderful motivator.”

    “And what about satisfaction?” he asked.

    I finally met his gaze. “Satisfactiones tomorrow. When the ceremony starts without a single w, when the investors leave im press coverage calls it the most seamless corporate event of the year that’s satisfaction.”

    He tilted his head, studying me. “And after that?”

    I smiled faintly. “After that, I set the next goal. That’s how you stay ahead.”

    ed, and when bthe /b

    By the end of the day, every issue had been addressed. The lobby lighting gleamed warmly, the dessert order was triple–checkedb, /bthe bsound /bbsystem /bpurred with crystal rity, and the floral arrangements looked like ithey /ihad been painted into ce. The staff was exhausted, but I could bsee /bbthe /bbrelief /bbin /btheir faces. They knew tomorrow would go smoothly now.

    As I stood in the lobby, watching the final touchese togetherb, /bbI /bfelt ba /bswell of quiet pride. This was my domain, bmy /bbstage/b. bTomorrow/bb, /bbthe /bbworld /bbwould /bsee exactly what I wanted them to see: control, elegance, power.

    b2/3 /b

    19:06 bSat /b16 bAug /b

    bAnd/bb! /b

    intended to enjoy

    every

    second of it.

    メー

    dll and

    く