At precisely 7:30 a.m., Veronica Saunders sat primly at her desk in the makeshift office space Mark had been assigned for the duration of his stay at the resort. She was dressed impeccably in a tailored blouse and pencil skirt, every strand of hair in place, makeup flawless, posture perfect. The image of professionalism.
But beneath the surface, her mind was in turmoil.
The events of the previous night kept replaying in her head like a broken reel. She still couldn’t grasp how spectacularly her plan had collapsed. She had genuinely believed that bringing Elaine into the fold would be a strategic advantage—that the older woman’s presence would help her edge out Jessica and secure her own position more firmly in Mark’s personal and professional life.
Instead, her alliance with Elaine had
