Who Bleeds First

The phone was still warm in her hand when a light knock sounded on the office door.

“Come in,” Leona called, setting the device down.

Dana stepped inside, a stack of papers tucked neatly in her arm and a sharp look on her face. She always had that air about her, like she’d read everything, calculated everything, and was only waiting for Leona to make the final strike.

“Perfect timing,” Leona said, smoothing the crease in her skirt as she sat straighter. “What do you have for me?”

Dana crossed the room, her heels quiet against the carpet, and placed the folder on Leona’s desk. “Something big,” she said simply, her tone carrying that weight she reserved for serious matters.

Leona’s brows arched slightly. “Go on.”

“It’s a foreign project,” Dana began, flipping open the folder and turning it toward her. Pages of reports, projections, and company logos spread across the desk. “A multinational group, Valente Global. They’ve announced they’re looking for one firm to handle their entry into C