By the time the Apex Global deck was in its third revision, Serena had become, by any outside measure, one of Elena's closest allies in the building — the one who stayed late without being asked, who remembered small details, who seemed to anticipate exactly what Elena needed before Elena had fully articulated it herself.
It was, Elena thought more than once, either a remarkable coincidence or an extremely deliberate one.
Priya, at least, had no such reservations. "She's been a lifesaver on this pitch," Priya said one afternoon, watching Serena work the creative team through a fourth round of revisions with the tireless enthusiasm of someone who genuinely loved the work. "I know you two had a rocky start, but honestly? I think she's turned into one of the best additions to this team in y
