Carrie did not expect the call.
It came just as she was about to leave her office that evening, her phone buzzing with an unfamiliar number. She almost ignored it, but something in her gut told her to answer.
"Ms. Tuazon?" A soft but brisk voice.
"Yes, this is she."
"This is Angela, Anita Sandoval's assistant. Ms. Sandoval is willing to meet you tomorrow. Noon, at Aurelia."
Carrie straightened in her chair. Aurelia was one of Makati's most discreet upscale restaurants, favored by executives and old-money families who preferred their negotiations served with caviar and silence.
"Of course," Carrie said, hiding the leap in her chest. "I'll be there."
The next day, she arrived ten minutes early, dressed in a pearl-gray sheath and her favorite heels, the armor she reserved for battles l
