MAYA

The last few days moved like clockwork. I’d wake up and endure a quiet breakfast with Silas, Isabella, and sometimes Julian and Viktor. Afterward, I’d get into the car with Silas. We always left for the office together.

There wasn't much conversation, just empty small talk. The unspoken rule was that I went where he went. He wanted to be certain I was at Frank’s desk until the second his own day ended.

Frank’s training was coming to an end. In a few days, I would be expected to handle the workload on my own. I was getting better at adapting to Blackwood Holdings as my life settled into...