Maya leaned back in her office chair, tapping her pen against the polished desk. For once, her schedule was light. No clients pressing in, no endless phone calls. A rare luxury. The announcement party loomed ahead, and she wanted a little time to herself before the chaos swept her up completely.

She picked up her phone and called her assistant. “I’m rounding up for today. Handle everything that comes in. I trust you.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” her assistant replied eagerly.

Maya gathered her purse and slipped on her sunglasses. As she walked through the corridor, her staff greeted her warmly, bowing slightly as she passed. Maya returned polite smiles. She was...