The morning came too soon, meeting Sarah in bed, unlike usual, due to late night rest. Yesterday was lonely for her, alone on her own estate. Sarah stirred awake at the faint sound of knocking at her front door. For a moment, she thought she had imagined it, her body still heavy with sleep. But the knocking came again, gentle and persistent, like a rhythm that refused to be ignored.She sat up, rubbing her eyes, her heart drumming faster than it should. Pulling her robe tightly around her, she padded to the door and hesitated. She knew who it would be even without her looking.Her fingers hovered over the lock. Slowly, she turned the handle and pulled the door open.Just as she expected, Malik stood quietly by the door, dressed simply, almost humbly. In his hand, he held a single flower, a pale lily, its delicate petals trembling slightly in the morning breeze. His eyes met hers, calm but searching, carrying a depth of emotion she wasn’t ready to face.“Sarah,” he said softly, extend

The next morning, Sarah woke up early and hurried to the office. As soon as she arrived, she immediately announced a meeting in the conference hall. Sarah sat at the head of the long table, her posture regal but her heart were heavy as the weight of the past twenty-four hours pressed down on her shoulders — the sudden resignation, Michelle’s persuasion, the gnawing suspicion that something larger was unfolding behind her back. But she forced her face into composure. As leader of the company, she couldn’t afford even a hint of weakness.Around her, the board members shuffled into place. Old faces she had known since childhood — Chole, Janet, Evelyn and some other broad members, men and women who had been loyal to her grandfather before passing that loyalty down to her. They all whispered to one another, exchanging curious glances. Something in the air told them today’s meeting would not be routine.When the room finally settled, Sarah cleared her throat. “Thank you for coming on such

Sarah sat quietly, savoring her dinner as the soft clatter of silverware echoed while she finished her last bite. The heaviness of the day still pressed against her shoulders but at least the food had restored some of her strength. She dabbed her lips with a napkin, then called softly, “You can clear the table now.”The masked servant appeared almost instantly, moving with a precision that unsettled her. He gathered the dishes neatly with efficient movements but strangely silent. Sarah stood, stretching her arms slightly before heading toward the stairs.Her mind drifted to the file Michelle had pressed into her hands earlier. She hadn’t had the chance to read it properly, but tonight she would. That way, she could walk into tomorrow’s board meeting prepared.In her bedroom, she set her bag down on the dresser and went straight to the small table near the window where she had left the file. But when she looked, the surface was bare and her brows furrowed.“Strange… I put it somewhere

Malik sat alone in a study room. The room was pitch black, with only his computer’s soft light illuminating it. It was late, yet sleep never came easily anymore. On the monitor, headlines rolled across the financial feed.“Roy Enterprises Secures Historic Helios Deal.”“Sarah Roy Leads Company Into Global Spotlight.”The words brought the faintest curve to his lips. He leaned back, exhaling slowly, as though releasing a burden he had carried for years.The door creaked open, and his aide slipped in with a tablet in his hand. “Sir,” the man said, his voice brimming with restrained excitement, “it’s official. Helios signed. The switch worked flawlessly. Everyone believes it was Michelle’s file that carried them into the deal. The board is praising Sarah as a visionary.”Malik’s eyes didn’t leave the screen. His smile lingered, faint but unreadable. “This isn’t for me, it’s for her.” He murmured.The aide tilted his head. “But, sir, this was your play. Without your interference, Roy En