Eastwood called at precisely 9:00 a.m.Serena noticed the precision before she noticed the number. There was something deliberate about organizations that prided themselves on punctuality, it was never about respect for time, but about control over it.She let the phone ring once more before answering.“Serena Blake,” she said calmly.“Ms. Blake, this is Adrian Cole from Eastwood Development. Thank you for agreeing to speak with us.”Agreeing, she thought. Already framed as consent.“You’re welcome,” she replied. “I’m listening.”Adrian’s voice was smooth, practiced, the kind shaped by boardrooms and glass walls. He spoke about opportunity, about vision, about responsibility. He used words like sustainable, transparent, future-forward. Serena listened without interrupting, jotting nothing down. She’d learned long ago that what mattered most was never in the first explanation.“We’d like you to serve as an independent ethical consultant,” Adrian continued. “Your role would be advisory,
Last Updated : 2026-02-12 Read more