finally parted with a soft chime, the lobby stretched before her like an unfamiliar battlefield. The staff offered polite nods, but she felt t

miliar car idled at the curb, hazards blinking. Maria stepped into the c

a, leapt out with a cry of relief. "Boss!" she gasped, voice raw. She

rose slowly to hold Linda back. A tear slipped d

-

r, but she couldn't bring herself to speak. The city rolled by outside, neon and darkness alternating in

wanted to come here herself. I convinced her to wait, but she's furious. She kept asking where Emma is. She..." Linda hesitated,

Hawaii. All Maria had ever said was that she'd broken up with her boyfriend and plan

: "I don't care what happened between you and him

elplessness nearly broke her. "Linda," she whispered, voice ragged, "I don't

-

ed by construction crews working by floodlights. The grinding noise of drills and saws pierced the qui

is forehead. "Ma'am, we'll finish tonight," he p

ide. The air smelled like wet cement and freshly cut wood. Her once-pristine foyer was clutter

nry to burst in at any moment. "Boss..." she said careful

ma without warning. He had power, money, lawyers - everything she didn't. And now

We'll figure it out," she said sof

-

est. In every dream, Emma's small voice called for her from behind a locked door. Ev

at tasted like mud but felt like life. The construction noise had faded - the

meeting this afternoon," she said

lf upright, spine

eduled once. He threatened to p

ed them into a new stratosphere. The orders were pouring in every hour. Business was thriving. But none of it matte

tanding. "Fin

-

ite linen tablecloths. President Smith sat at the head of the table, swirling a glass of wine as Maria entere

sing with an oily smile. "I

lized. For the first twenty minutes, the conversation stayed professional. He praised her marketing

th a flick of his wrist. "Let's talk

-

body like oil. "Maria," he said, voice dropping an octave, "you're a remarkable

ned her back. "President Smith, I appreciate t

" he purred. "You're almost thirty, aren't you? And you have a child with no father. How long do

ut her hands shook under the table. "President S

omen like you need. Don't act so pure. I can give you pro

reath. She stood abruptly, chair

rising with her. "You're just a washed-up single mother. Your dau

p, slapping him so hard his head jerked sid

-

rage. "You're finished," he snarled. "Y

ter. They listened to President Smith's furious accusations and ignored her protests. The abs

the room: "She didn't do anything! He tried

-

air, the room buzzing with harsh fluorescent lights. Pres

r. And your precious daughter will grow up knowi

nd a wild, desperate courage rose inside her. She remembered Henry's number, saved mysteri

ed the ca

-

en his voice answered, l

the words out: "I'm... I'm at the X Police Station. Some

d on the line fo

e, sharp and certa