Nobela ni maria.whitehorn

Evelyn stood at her desk early Tuesday morning, double-checking her notes for the day's leadership review. The storm she had unleashed yesterday had yet to fully settle, and the air inside the headquarters of Drake Industries was thick with speculation. A different kind of silence clung to the corridors now, less reverent, more calculating.But Evelyn felt strangely calm.She had stepped into a firestorm, and for once, she wasn't the one burning."Morning," came a voice from the door. It was Mason, holding a small paper bag in one hand and a bright smile."You're early," Evelyn said, her tension melting just a little."I brought those muffins you liked from the bakery down the hill. Blueberry lemon. Still warm."She took the bag, surprised by how much it steadied her. Mason had been her calm in the chaos lately, and she found herself increasingly grateful for his presence."You didn't have to," she murmured."You're fighting an

Monday morning brought an icy chill to the sleek halls of Drake Industries, despite the warm spring sun outside. Evelyn walked with steady purpose, her heels clicking rhythmically as she moved through the glass double doors of the executive floor. She had spent the entire weekend cross-referencing internal systems, compiling Hana's findings, and running the forensics Noah had secured. Now she was armed.And ready.Across the floor, Genevieve leaned back in her chair, legs crossed, eyes half-lidded as she laughed at something one of the board members said. She looked perfectly composed, chic in a dove-gray pantsuit, a soft wave in her hair, every movement slow and deliberate. The perfect illusion of a woman in control.But Evelyn wasn't fooled.The department meeting was scheduled for ten. By 9:58 a.m., the room was full. Senior managers. Analysts. Even a few from Finance. Alexander hadn't confirmed if he would attend, but his silence didn't mean he wasn't

The following Monday brought with it a crisp bite in the Seoul air, as though the city itself sensed something was about to shift. Evelyn stood in front of the mirror that morning, tying her silk scarf with deliberate care. Today wasn't about style. It was about armor.She arrived at the office ten minutes early, just as usual, but something in her gaze was sharper, more resolute. Hana was already waiting by her desk with two coffees in hand."Black, no sugar. Figured you might need it," Hana said.Evelyn took the cup gratefully, their eyes meeting in quiet understanding."Any word from Noah?" she asked."He pulled the full metadata from the access logs. The same ID was used across multiple edits, all tied to the misreported campaign budget. It's airtight."Evelyn exhaled slowly. "Then let's get to work."At the top floor, Alexander reviewed the evidence himself before the leadership briefing. Noah stood across from his desk, arms fol

Friday brought a rare lull in the usual storm of activity. Evelyn arrived early, the office still hushed, her heels echoing against the marble floors as she made her way to her corner office. The crisp morning light poured through the windows, casting long shadows across her desk.She relished the quiet. For once, she could breathe.Until she noticed the manila folder left on her chair.It wasn't addressed. Inside, a printed spreadsheet bore Drake Industries' letterhead, only the figures were off. Alarmingly so. Projected expenses were inflated. Several line items had been duplicated. And worse: her digital signature sat at the bottom.Evelyn stared at the page, her blood turning cold. She had never seen this file before.A soft knock came at the door.Hana entered, clutching her tablet. "Morning. I was just going to... oh." She saw the folder in Evelyn's hands. "What's that?""Someone's idea of a joke," Evelyn replied, though her voi

The week began with a flurry of meetings, and Evelyn, now fully immersed in her role as Head of Marketing, found herself pulled in every direction. She thrived on the fast pace, the challenge of it all. Alexander had taken a step back, allowing her to shape the department as she saw fit, and she did so with quiet tenacity. Under her leadership, morale had improved, collaboration flowed more freely, and the fall campaign metrics were on track to exceed projections.Still, the faint echo of anxiety followed her. It wasn't about her work and it was the lingering sense that something unseen was circling.She wasn't wrong.Genevieve had spent the weekend orchestrating her next move, an idea formed over a long phone call with Claudia. It was subtle, sophisticated, designed to plant seeds of doubt rather than burn bridges outright. The first step: a report. Falsified numbers, planted inconsistencies, and whispers that Evelyn's proposals had gone over budget.The

Claudia Drake stepped out of the black sedan with a grace that could only come from decades of wielding power in stilettos. Seoul's late autumn air tugged lightly at the hem of her tailored cashmere coat as she surveyed the Drake Industries headquarters. It had been years since she last set foot in the city, and even longer since she'd involved herself directly in company matters. But recent whispers had drawn her back... whispers about a woman. A woman her son was keeping too close.The elevator ride to the executive lounge was smooth and silent, but Claudia's mind was anything but. The moment the doors slid open, her sharp eyes took in every corner of the room. Her gaze settled on the familiar figure waiting with elegance and purpose.Genevieve stood as Claudia entered, her expression warm but precise. A delicate porcelain cup rested in her hand, red lipstick staining its rim. "Claudia," she said, offering both hands in greeting. "You look spectacular, as always."