Tuesday morning arrived with the usual rush.
Aurora stepped out of the lift with a thick folder tucked beneath her arm and a fresh cup of coffee in her other hand.
"Good morning."
"Morning, Miss Aurora."
"Good morning."
She returned bright greetings as she walked through the bustling office.
The atmosphere was different from the previous day.
Perhaps it was because Monday's board meeting was already behind her. Or perhaps it was because Aurora had decided that she simply wasn't going to waste another thought on the people who doubted her.
She had an empire to run. That was enough.
She entered her office and placed the folder on her desk.
Amaya followed closely behind.
"Your schedule." She said handing her a digital tablet.
Aurora took it, scanning the packed agenda.
"How bad?"
"Four meetings, two conference calls and a mandatory site visit this afternoon."
Aurora stared at the screen. "And when am I supposed to breathe?"
Her assistant smiled knowingly. "I've generously given you fifteen minutes at noon."
"You're far too kind."
"I try."
Aurora laughed softly sitting down in her executive chair and beginning to sift through the documents waiting for her attention.
The first report concerned one of their active construction projects, the second involved a potential high-end new client and the third was an updated financial statement.
Aurora read each carefully, making notes where necessary.
She had just reached the final page when Amaya spoke up again.
"There is something else."
Aurora looked up from her desk.
"Another problem?"
"Not exactly." Amaya stepped forward placing placed a heavy, premium folder on the desk.
"A business proposal came in this morning."
Aurora glanced at the elegant cover.
"From?"
"Ravencrest Holdings."
Aurora flipped it open.
The proposal was meticulously detailed.
Within the first few pages, the scope of the project immediately caught her attention.
It was a major development project, fully backed by private funding, with Ravencrest Holdings proposing a long-term partnership with her company.
Aurora continued reading line by line. Then she stopped entirely frozen in her tracks.
Her eyes returned to one particular financial figure.
She read it again.
And the. A third time.
"Is this number correct, Amaya?"
Her assistant nodded quickly. "Yes! We verified it."
"Yes."
Aurora leaned back slightly against the leather cushion.
The amount Ravencrest Holdings was offering was enormous.
Not merely generous...exceptionally large.
It was the exact kind of life-changing figure that could make even a massive, established company reconsider its priorities.
The proposed initial payment alone was several times higher than what Aurora would normally expect for a project of this scale, and that wasn't even including the additional long-term financial benefits outlined in the agreement.
Aurora slowly turned another page. "And they're offering this much?"
"That's what the proposal states."
"Why us?" Aurora frowned.
The money was deeply impressive, almost suspiciously so. But money alone was never enough to convince her. The financial projections were undeniably strong.
The proposed timeline was ambitious but achievable, and the project itself had incredible architectural potential.
Aurora placed the folder down. "Have we worked with them before?"
"No."
"Have they ever approached us in the past?"
"Never."
"Then why now? And why us?"
Her assistant shrugged.
"They specifically requested Kings Architectural Firm, no open bidding."
Aurora looked at the grand figures again.
There had to be a hidden reason. She wasn't going to let a large payment blind her to the critical details.
"Who prepared this?"
"Their executive representative is a man named Adrian Blake. He will be handling all the primary negotiations."
Aurora nodded thoughtfully. "Have we verified the company's background?"
"Yes. Everything appears completely legitimate. Their funds are fully liquid and ready."
Aurora closed the folder.
"Set up a meeting."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
Her assistant immediately made a note on her tablet.
"Ten o'clock?"
"Ten works."
"I'll confirm it with the board immediately."
Aurora nodded, but, as her assistant turned to leave, she raised her hand.
"Wait."
Amaya stopped at the door.
"Get me absolutely everything you can find on Ravencrest Holdings before that meeting, I don't want any surprises."
Amaya smiled back confidently. "Already requested."
"Good." Aurora chuckled.
The door clicked closed.
Aurora looked back down at the folder again.
There was nothing unusual about receiving a business proposal. Her company received them constantly.
Still, something about this one had caught her attention.
Aurora looked at the proposal again. The amount of money being offered was tempting. Very tempting.
But Aurora hadn't built her company by chasing the biggest number placed in front of her.
She had built it by knowing when something was worth accepting—and when something was too good to accept without asking questions.
She picked up the folder once more.
"Let's see what you're really offering, Ravencrest Holdings"
...
The rest of the morning passed quickly.
By noon, Aurora had successfully navigated two meetings, approved a revised project budget and rejected a proposal that she felt was far too risky.
She finally returned to her office and sank into her chair.
Within minutes, Amaya marched in and placed a fresh sandwich on the desk.
"Eat."
Aurora stared at the meal.
"Did you just aggressively order me lunch?"
"Yes."
"You know I have another meeting in twenty minutes."
"Which means," Amaya countered, crossing her arms. "You have exactly twenty minutes to finish that sandwich."
Aurora smiled, defeated. "You're becoming incredibly bossy."
"Someone around here has to be."
Aurora took a bite.
"Fair point."
Amaya laughed dropping into the opposite chair. For a few minutes, they spoke about nothing important.
Then the conversation shifted.
"How are things with Candace?" Amaya asked softly.
Aurora's expression warmed.
"Good."
"She's still working on her brand?"
"Yes."
"How's she feeling about it?"
Aurora paused for a moment, thinking back to their talk.
"Better, I think."
She hoped that was true. Candace had been more vulnerable than usual when they had spoken on Sunday.
Aurora understood all too well what it was like to question your own worth.
She simply wished Candace could see herself the way she, Aurora saw her.
"She'll be fine," Aurora said with certainty.
Amaya nodded.
"I think so too."
...
That evening, Aurora sat alone in her living room.
Her laptop was open on the coffee table, the Ravencrest Holdings proposal was glowing brightly on the screen.
She had read it through twice already. There were no obvious legal loopholes or weaknesses.
She opened an external document containing background information about the cooperation: established, well-funded, private ownership and a relatively quiet and clean history.
Aurora frowned.
"Interesting."
Her phone buzzed on the table.
Candace: Are you alive?
Aurora smiled.
Aurora: Unfortunately, yes.
The reply came immediately.
Candace: Workaholic.
Aurora: Says the woman actively building an entire clothing brand from scratch.
There was a long pause on the screen as the typing bubbles danced.
Then,
Candace: 'Touché.'
Aurora laughed softly shutting her laptop screen. For once, she wasn't going to think about work for the rest of the evening.
She stood up from the couch and walked towards the window. The city was bright beneath the night sky.
Unexpectedly, she wondered briefly how Felix was doing.
The thought came so naturally that she almost didn't notice it.
Then she did. When the realization hit her, her cheeks immediately warmed.
Aurora shook her head. "Focus, Aurora."
She had just met the man and yet...
She smiled out at the glittering lights, tomorrow was about business.
Nothing else.