Nyra realized too late that Adrian Vale didn't need to raise his voice to win.
The email hit her inbox at 6:03 a.m.
SUBJECT: Strategic Offsite Mandatory Attendance
LOCATION: Zurich
DURATION: 7 Days
ATTENDEES: Adrian Vale, Nyra K., Selected Team
She laughed. Once. Sharp. Disbelieving.
"Absolutely not," she muttered, already typing her reply.
She hit send before finishing her coffee.
Adrian called her into his office less than an hour later.
Glass walls. Perfect lighting. Power on display like décor.
"You declined," he said calmly, not looking up from his tablet.
"I don't travel," Nyra replied. "Especially not internationally. And definitely not on short notice."
Adrian finally lifted his eyes. "This isn't a vacation. It's a business opportunity."
She crossed her arms. "Find someone else."
"I did," he said smoothly. "They weren't you."
Nyra scoffed. "Flattery won't"
"This project determines who leads the next division rollout," Adrian interrupted. "Exposure. Influence. A seat at the table most people beg for."
She hesitated. Just a fraction.
He saw it.
"But," Adrian continued, leaning back, "representation matters. You'll be visible. Which means you'll follow standards."
Her jaw tightened. "Standards."
"No hoodies," he said. "No sneakers. No smoke breaks in public. And you'll dress in a way that doesn't embarrass me or the company."
Nyra stared at him, heat rising. "You don't get to redesign me."
"I do if I'm taking you with me," he replied calmly. "Consider it… professional grooming."
She stood abruptly. "I don't even have a passport."
For the first time, Adrian smiled.
A slow, knowing smile.
The next day, a sealed envelope waited on her desk.
EXPEDITED PASSPORT — APPROVED
Nyra felt something cold settle in her chest.
She stormed into his office. "How the hell...!!!???"
"Influence," Adrian said simply. "You should learn how it works."
She glared. "You think this means you own me?"
"I think," he replied, standing now, towering just slightly, "that you're too smart not to recognize an opening when it's handed to you."
Silence stretched.
Nyra inhaled slowly. Counted her breaths the way the streets had taught her to when things turned dangerous.
"This doesn't mean you win," she said.
Adrian stepped closer. "No," he agreed. "It means we both do if you can keep up."
Later, on the rooftop, Elias listened as Nyra paced.
"He's controlling," Elias said carefully. "You don't have to go."
Nyra stopped, staring out at the city. "That's the problem. I do."
She hated that Adrian had outmaneuvered her. Hated that he'd used opportunity as a leash. But deeper than that
She hated that part of her wanted to see how far this road went.
She crushed her cigarette under her heel.
"Pack light," she muttered. "This isn't a vacation."
Below them, ValeTech glowed.
Above her, the sky promised turbulence.
And Adrian Vale had just pulled her into his world on his terms.