Isabella Voss stepped onto the rooftop bar of The Eclipse at precisely eight o’clock, her posture straight and her expression calm. She wore a tailored black suit that fit her like armor. Her eyes scanned the space until they landed on Sophia Vale, her longtime secretary, sitting alone at a quiet corner table. Sophia’s sleek blonde bob caught the low lights, and her emerald blouse hugged her figure in a way Isabella had never allowed herself to notice before.
Isabella walked over and sat down across from her without waiting for an invitation. “Sophia,” she said evenly, “I should have known it was you. You’ve always paid close attention to details. Show me the photos first. I want to see them before we discuss anything else.”
Sophia met her gaze steadily, then pulled out her phone. She op
