Evelyn checked her phone and sighed when she saw there were no messages and no missed calls.
She didn't know why she'd checked again. Habit, maybe. Or curiosity she hadn't fully shaken off yet. Either way, the screen stayed empty.
She locked it and slipped it back into her bag as Liora came around to the driver's side.
"Home?" Liora asked.
Evelyn nodded. "Yeah."
They pulled out of Milan's parking lot and merged into traffic. It wasn't rush hour yet, but the roads were already busy. Liora drove with the same calm focus she always had, one hand steady on the wheel, eyes forward.
Evelyn rested her head back against the seat.
Her phone vibrated.
She frowned and brought it out again.
Miranda.
She stared at the name longer than she needed to. There was no rush in her chest, no sudden fear. Just a quiet awareness that this call had been coming.
She answered.
"Hello?"
"Evelyn." Miranda didn't bother with pleasantries. "We need to talk."
Evelyn looked straight ahead through the windshield. "About what?"
"You know exactly about what."
"Then say it."
A pause. Evelyn could picture Miranda already — standing somewhere polished, shoulders straight, annoyed that she wasn't being met halfway.
"I want to see you," Miranda said. "In person."
Evelyn exhaled softly through her nose. "Today?"
"Yes."
"No," Evelyn said calmly.
Another pause, sharper this time.
"Then when?" Miranda asked.
Evelyn glanced at Liora, then back to the road. "Send me the address."
Miranda didn't respond immediately, but the call ended a second later.
Evelyn lowered her phone.
Liora spoke without looking at her. "I guess. Your sister right?."
"Yes."
"Do you want me to ignore the address if it comes?"
"No."
"Okay." Liora replied calmly as she focused on the wheels.
They drove for another minute before the message came in. Liora glanced at the screen mounted on the dash when the location synced.
"Huh," she said. "That place."
Evelyn didn't ask which place. She didn't need details.
"Take me there," she said.
Liora nodded. "I'll wait."
Miranda was already there when Evelyn arrived.
She always was.
Evelyn spotted her immediately — seated near the back, posture rigid, hands folded on the table like she was waiting for an interview to begin. She didn't look up until Evelyn stopped in front of her.
"You're late," Miranda said.
"No," Evelyn replied. "I'm on time for myself."
Miranda pressed her lips together. "Sit."
Evelyn pulled out the chair and sat, placing her bag on her lap instead of the floor. She didn't remove her coat.
Miranda noticed.
"Are you planning to leave already?" she asked.
"That depends on you," Evelyn said.
Miranda sighed, as if burdened by patience she didn't have. "I'll be direct."
"Please."
"You joining Milan was not smart."
Evelyn nodded slowly. "That's your opening?"
"It's the truth."
"No," Evelyn said. "It's your opinion."
Miranda leaned forward. "Do you have any idea what that agency is doing right now?"
"Working," Evelyn said. "Same as every other agency."
"They are positioning themselves."
"So am I."
Miranda's eyes hardened. "You don't get to position yourself like this."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"Because your name doesn't move independently," Miranda snapped. "It never has."
There it was.
Evelyn didn't react immediately. She adjusted the strap of her bag instead, then looked up.
"It does now," she said.
Miranda laughed, short and incredulous. "You think Milan makes you untouchable?"
"I don't think about being untouchable," Evelyn replied. "I think about being allowed to exist without negotiation."
Miranda shook her head. "You're being emotional."
"No," Evelyn said. "I'm being honest. That's new for you."
Miranda straightened. "This path will cost you."
"It already has," Evelyn said. "And I still chose it."
"You're embarrassing the family."
Evelyn smiled faintly. "You mean I'm embarrassing you."
Silence stretched between them.
Miranda lowered her voice. "There are contracts in motion. Major ones. Milan getting ahead of Cross is already causing tension."
"That's not my responsibility."
"It becomes your responsibility when you're used as leverage."
Evelyn tilted her head. "Used by who?"
Miranda hesitated — just a fraction too long.
"Exactly," Evelyn said quietly.
Miranda's fingers tapped once against the table. "You're not seeing the bigger picture."
"I see it clearly," Evelyn replied. "I'm just not standing where you want me to stand anymore."
Miranda's jaw tightened. "You always do this. You simplify things when you don't want to listen."
"No," Evelyn said. "You complicate things when you don't want to let go."
Miranda leaned back, studying her. "You've changed."
"Yes."
"Someone's filling your head."
"No one is," Evelyn said. "For once, I'm thinking for myself."
Miranda scoffed. "That agency will drop you the moment you become inconvenient."
"Maybe," Evelyn said. "But at least it'll be honest."
Miranda leaned forward again. "You could have come back. We were willing to adjust."
Evelyn's expression hardened. "Adjust what?"
Miranda didn't answer immediately.
"Exactly," Evelyn continued. "You didn't want to change anything. You just wanted me quiet again."
"That's not fair."
"It's accurate."
Miranda's composure slipped. "You're making enemies."
"I already had them," Evelyn said. "They just smiled more before."
"You think walking away makes you strong?" Miranda asked sharply.
"No," Evelyn replied. "It makes me done."
Miranda stood abruptly, chair scraping the floor. "If you walk out of this—"
"I will," Evelyn said calmly.
Miranda stared at her. "You don't get to decide everything."
"I get to decide me."
Evelyn stood, lifting her bag onto her shoulder.
"This conversation is over," she said. "You called me to regain control. You didn't."
Miranda's face flushed with anger. "You'll regret this."
Evelyn looked at her for a long moment. Not angry. Not afraid.
Then she smiled — small, restrained, final.
"I already survived you," she said. "This part is easy."
She turned and walked away.
Behind her, Miranda didn't follow.
She couldn't.
Outside, Liora was already opening the car door.
"That fast?" she asked.
Evelyn got in and closed her eyes briefly. "Yes."
Liora started the engine. "You okay?"
Evelyn opened her eyes and looked straight ahead. "I am now."
The car pulled away.
Miranda remained where she was — furious, humiliated, and finally aware that Evelyn was no longer something she could summon and control.