She typed back: “Ready.” The next day, the boardroom at Orion Air was a different kind of tense.
The executives were dressed to impress, ties knotted, tight smiles plastered on.
They had been told a strategic partner was coming to discuss the acquisition.
Gavin stood at the head of the table, practicing his handshake, muttering about brand synergy.
Tanya was there, her lipstick fresh, her smile a little too wide.
Elliot slouched in his chair, sunglasses on the table like a prop. The door opened and Lysandra walked in.
Black vest, simple but sharp. Hair pulled back. No jewelry, no makeup. Just her. The room froze. Tanya’s smile dropped.
Elliot’s jaw tightened. Gavin’s hand hovered midair, unsure whether to offer it. Lysandra didn’t sit.
She stood at the far end of the table, her backpack, cleaned but still old, on the floor beside her.
“Good morning,” she said, her voice calm, like she was greeting a neighbor.
