Christoph turned the final page of Sophia’s revised marketing plan with the unhurried focus of a surgeon evaluating whether a patient was salvageable. His eyes tracked every line, every margin note, every sparkly gel-pen annotation. Sophia sat across from him like a decorative grenade: glittery, furious, and seconds from going off.Dominic, saint of lost causes, quietly tried not to breathe too loud.
At last, Christoph closed the folder.
“It is significantly better,” he said.
Sophia straightened, lips twitching into a triumphant smirk.
“But,” he continued, “it requires polishing. Ardent Lex will refine the language, tighten the risk parameters, and formalize the compliance clauses before approval.”
Her smile evaporated.
“Translation,” Sophia said, narrowing her eyes, “you think it’s g
