PTE

isa lay stiff on her bed, the coat still abandoned on the chair.

eye on

love with her.

s fell. She had wasted enough on

the lamp. "No more", she whispered into the silence. If Joseph

ompany, her name, her worth – they would use

urning steadily in her chest. Tomo

she would

a single phone call. Her voice w

ing tomorrow. Email me the ne

rning, her

--

s hallways. Lisa descended the stairs jus

their eyes brushe

each other l

he wanted – just for a second – to call his name, to ask why he had s

drew in a sharp breath, forcing

d his tie, phone pressed to his e

camera to

e him, Lisa appeare

r caught her well–defined face, the curve of her cup

readable, watching her as if she wer

*

Enterprises, the air turned heavy. Wh

s spoil

rom respon

d her identi

ed. Just as she neared the boardroom, a slip of

ing to humili

r phone buzzed – another email with t

resen

even reached the head of the table. Question

you been all

fies you to

way from this com

gile calm. Lisa's fingers tightened around her not

the corridor came roaring back – sp

skin, doubt claw

the air

d in, tall and commanding. His gaze swep

r presentation will you?" his vo

le

One by one, the board m

lence he left in his wake. For the firs

ecutive's proposal, backed by the papers she h

n the neat reports on her phone...

d the emailed reports aside and

utive's proposal line by line, exposing the

rs leaned forward in awe: others s

n correctly –

ck, Lauren watched her with an

almost deafening. The smirks had faded, replaced

ose from the far

most feared business strategists in the country, kn

numbers, M

on", Joseph corr

we'd hand you this company? Because of your last

the boardroom. The chall

ened. She met hi

eplied, her voic

n't need my father's shadow, and I don't need Joseph Bronson's name. All I need a

n the guru's lips pressed into

d their heads – not to h

*

to her chest as she walked toward her car, her heels echoing against

away from the cameras, she

the board meeting, a smile curved on

latory message from her dad. Instead,

lf – this company won't be the only batt

r any suspicious vehicles trailing her.

low, more like a trap