Chapter 14: Alex

The next day, I was deep in the financial statements when I caught the click of heels in the hallway. Without glancing up, I knew it was Ellie; her stride was as confident as the numbers before me.

Before she could breeze past my door, I called out. "Ellie, in my office. Now."

She paused, her resolve wavering at the edge of defiance, before turning to meet my gaze with an air of composed professionalism. My approach was direct, no time for beating around the bush.

"I need your analysis on the Henderson merger proposal," I stated, sliding a thick dossier across my desk towards her. "I want your insights and recommendations on it by the end of the day." The words were a clear challenge, a test of her mettle and expertise.

Her eyebrow arched upward, a silent herald of her surprise—or was it defiance? "By the end of the day? That's a tight deadline," she retorted, but her voice betrayed no weakness.