message. No call.

elusional. But the silence? The absolute nothing? Th

lose. Checked it under the table during cl

ek, she stopped.

ed. She'd made a name for herself in a short time,too short, really. No one asked how she'd transitioned so seamlessly

he kn

vi

been calculated. Every move design

shed on her without explanation,

eague. A quick conver

to land the Hale account.

or a position ther

e job. But she nee

n for cutting through scandals like su

was schedule

st, intimidating in the way real power often is. Victoria arrived early, w

g windows and bookshelves lined with strategic literature.

led at

Lane?" a v

tu

ly magnetic. Sharp cheekbones, an elegant charcoal suit, a

e said. "Director of S

her hand. Firm.

s no small talk. Just the click of heels and the

once they sat. "And I've read your transi

inch. "I'm not afr

pretty in meetings. We hire them to fix prob

her experience. About strategy. About

conversation began to

"how image is everything, yet so few people underst

l tactic. Especially when you're

rception is more real than

"It's not just about who you are. It's about who the

her. Like two women who recognized something in

here," Olga said,

e she'd passed a test she

e got the offer. N

Strat

firm's liaison for one of

onglom

d during the follow up call. "There's a dinner nex

d yes. Of co

sk who would

dn't n

n't coin

oppor

ntended t

ekend. At a small coff

alfway through a flat white when Olga

r making time

ling slightly. "You sounded like y

is more optics than substance. I thought we co

. Guest list. How to position the

lly, things

e in her cup without drinking it. "People assume I was handed it. But n

ved. "Sometimes, th

e who take. And people who wait to be given. I

ut the corner of her mout

t friends.

across that table. A mutual recog

simil

rategy. The quiet

ere beneat

ing that power was

to be

he researched the Hale family public records, interviews, board meeting

. She wanted to understand

ew the name of his father's lawyer, his mother's favorite charity, the

would weave h

od in front of the mirror in her bedro

o be precise. Po

thoughts

warmed her shoulder. Of how his hands had once

w easily he'd left her. How

he way she spoke of survi

hought of

of her. What s

no going

sn't ab

ever

ut reclaim

ght, she'd take

his w

er into