The click of her heels echoed down the hallway like a drumbeat of confidence.
Danelle adjusted the gold button of her ivory blazer and checked her reflection one last time in the floor-length mirror near her office. Her makeup was subtle, powerful—red lipstick, bold brows. Her hair was swept into a sleek bun that screamed authority.
She was ready.
Stella walked in, holding a slim folder. "The Kingston brothers are ten minutes out."
"Good," Danelle replied smoothly, taking the folder from her. "Anything I should know before they arrive?"
Stella's lips pressed into a thin line. "They're sharks, Ma'am. The charming kind—especially Kai. They're not used to being told 'no,' and they have a reputation for testing women in business."
Danelle let out a quiet breath through her nose. "Let them test me."
"They've sunk two rival firms this year alone. Very influential. Very unpredictable," Stella added, then lowered her voice, "And very sexist."
