Chapter 26: Pressure Points
It didn’t arrive all at once. It built. Quietly, from different directions, until Athena began to feel it everywhere. At work, it started with a single call of her name. “Ortaliz.” She turned, expecting routine. It wasn’t. Carrero’s father stood there, composed, deliberate in the way he carried authority without needing to raise his voice. She straightened instinctively. “I have a client for you,” he said, placing a folder in front of her with measured intent. “Important. Long-term potential.” The weight of it was immediate. “I expect results.” No emphasis. No repetition. But the message was clear. “I’ll deliver,” she said, steady. He held her gaze for a moment longer than necessary, as if measuring something beyond performance, then gave a slight nod and walked away. Sir V
- Writer
