"Absolutely not."
Eleanor Vance dropped the photograph onto the glass table.
Charlotte stared at her for two seconds before bursting into laughter.
Genevieve tried to hold hers back.
She failed.
Eleanor looked between the two women.
"You two are terrible friends."
Charlotte wiped the corner of her eye.
"You can't expect us to take you seriously when you've rejected every man your mother has introduced you to."
"Because every man my mother has introduced me to has been terrible."
Genevieve picked up the photograph.
She studied it carefully.
"He doesn't look terrible."
Eleanor gave her a look.
"Genevieve."
"What?"
"You weren't there."
Charlotte leaned forward.
"What happened?"
Eleanor folded her arms.
"He spent the first twenty minutes talking about his family."
Charlotte nodded.
"That's normal."
"Then he spent another ten minutes explaining how he believed a woman should behave after marriage."
Genevieve slowly lowered the photograph.
"Oh."
"Exactly."
Charlotte frowned.
"What did he say?"
Eleanor's eyes narrowed.
"He said a woman shouldn't be too ambitious because it could make her husband feel insecure."
Silence.
Then Charlotte laughed.
"Please tell me you walked out."
"I wanted to."
"What stopped you?"
"My mother."
Genevieve covered her mouth.
"Your mother was there?"
"No. But she had already called me twice before the date ended."
Charlotte shook her head.
"Your mother is determined."
"She is relentless."
Eleanor leaned back against the sofa.
She was beginning to wonder whether pretending to be busy was going to be enough to escape Sofia's matchmaking.
Probably not.
Her mother had been arranging blind dates for years.
It had started as something innocent.
Then it became a mission.
Every time Eleanor visited home, there was a new name.
A new family.
A new Alpha.
And always the same sentence.
Just give him a chance.
Eleanor was tired of giving chances.
She didn't need someone to complete her life.
She already had one.
A company.
A career.
A family she loved.
And two friends who refused to let her enjoy peace.
Charlotte stretched her legs across the sofa.
"So, what was this one's name?"
"Daniel."
Genevieve looked at the photograph again.
"Daniel looks handsome."
"That's not enough."
"True."
Charlotte nodded.
"Definitely not enough."
Eleanor smiled.
"At least someone understands me."
Charlotte pointed at her.
"I understand you. But I also think you're impossible."
"I'm selective."
"You're difficult."
"Selective."
"Difficult."
"Selective."
Genevieve laughed.
"Both of you are children."
Eleanor smiled.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
She had known Charlotte for years.
Charlotte was an Alpha—confident, outspoken, and fiercely protective of Eleanor.
Genevieve was an Omega, softer in personality but surprisingly stubborn whenever someone crossed a line.
The three women were completely different.
Yet somehow, they worked.
Eleanor glanced at the clock.
"I should probably call my mother."
Charlotte immediately shook her head.
"No."
Eleanor laughed.
"She'll keep calling."
"Let her."
"She'll worry."
"She'll send another blind date."
Eleanor groaned.
"You're right."
Genevieve smiled.
"Your mother just wants you to be happy."
"I know."
Eleanor's expression softened.
"My parents have always wanted the best for me."
Her voice became quieter.
"My father especially."
Charlotte's smile faded slightly.
"Mark still supports you?"
"Always."
Eleanor looked down at her hands.
Her father had been the reason she had never allowed society's expectations to define her.
Being an Omega had never made him see her as less.
But the rest of the world wasn't always so kind.
In their society, Alpha inheritance was still considered the norm.
Companies were usually passed from Alpha fathers to Alpha sons.
Omegas were expected to marry well, maintain family connections, and stay away from positions that required too much authority.
Her brother Edward had believed those rules were made for people like him.
He was an Alpha.
The firstborn son.
And, in his mind, that meant Vance Capital Holdings belonged to him.
But Edward had never been prepared to run the company.
He was arrogant, reckless, and entitled.
He had made decisions based on his ego rather than logic.
Their father had seen it.
So when the time came to choose his successor, Mark had chosen Eleanor.
The announcement had caused an uproar.
Eleanor still remembered Edward's face.
He had looked at her as if she had stolen something that belonged to him.
But she hadn't stolen anything.
She had earned it.
And she had spent years proving her father right.
Vance Capital Holdings was now one of the most respected investment companies in the country.
Eleanor had expanded it beyond what her father had imagined.
She had built partnerships, increased investments, and turned the company into something that could stand without the Vance family name carrying it.
She wasn't simply the daughter of Mark Vance anymore.
She was Eleanor Vance, CEO of Vance Capital Holdings.
The door opened.
A man stepped inside.
"Good afternoon."
Eleanor looked up.
"Sebastian."
Sebastian smiled.
Her assistant was an Omega, calm, organized, and exceptionally good at keeping Eleanor's chaotic schedule under control.
He held a tablet in one hand and several folders in the other.
"I apologize for interrupting."
"You're fine."
Sebastian glanced at Charlotte and Genevieve.
"Good afternoon."
Charlotte waved.
"Hey, Sebastian."
Genevieve smiled.
"Hi."
Sebastian walked toward Eleanor.
"I have the documents you requested."
"Put them here."
He placed the folders on the table.
Then he hesitated.
"There is one more thing."
Eleanor looked up.
"What?"
"The Apex Raven Global proposal."
Her expression changed immediately.
"Did they respond?"
"Not yet."
Eleanor took the folder.
Apex Raven Global.
The company had become one of the biggest names in the business world in a remarkably short period of time.
Yet almost nothing was known about its CEO.
Raven.
No verified photograph.
No public interviews.
No personal appearances without a mask.
No information about her private life.
The mystery surrounding her had become almost legendary.
Some people believed Raven was hiding because she had enemies.
Others believed the mask was simply a business strategy.
Eleanor wasn't interested in rumors.
She was interested in the company.
Vance Capital Holdings had been trying to establish a partnership with Apex Raven Global for months.
Their companies could benefit enormously from working together.
Eleanor opened the proposal.
Charlotte leaned closer.
"Still trying to get that meeting?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because their expansion strategy is impressive."
Genevieve looked at her.
"You've studied them?"
"Of course."
Eleanor flipped through the pages.
"They've entered several markets that most companies wouldn't risk touching."
Sebastian nodded.
"And their acquisitions have been unusually successful."
Eleanor paused.
"Exactly."
Charlotte looked amused.
"You sound fascinated."
"I'm interested in their business model."
"Of course."
Eleanor gave her a warning look.
Charlotte raised both hands.
"I didn't say anything."
Genevieve laughed.
Sebastian smiled quietly.
Eleanor continued reading.
Then she closed the folder.
"Arrange the meeting."
Sebastian looked at her.
"With Apex Raven Global?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"As soon as possible."
Sebastian nodded.
"I'll contact their office."
"Make sure they know I'm personally requesting the meeting."
"Yes, ma'am."
He turned to leave.
"Sebastian."
He stopped.
"Yes?"
"Don't make it sound desperate."
He smiled.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
The door closed behind him.
Charlotte looked at Eleanor.
"You're really interested in this company."
Eleanor picked up her glass.
"I'm interested in opportunities."
"Same thing."
"No."
Charlotte grinned.
"Whatever you say."
Eleanor ignored her.
Her eyes returned to the folder.
Apex Raven Global.
She had no idea that the woman behind that company was already back in Blackwood Heights.
She had no idea that Raven had built her empire from pain, betrayal, and revenge.
And she certainly had no idea that the business meeting she had just requested would eventually change both of their lives.
For now, however, Eleanor was only thinking about business.
And perhaps avoiding the next blind date her mother was undoubtedly planning.
Her phone suddenly rang.
She looked at the screen.
Mom.
Charlotte burst out laughing.
Eleanor stared at the phone.
"No."
Genevieve smiled.
"Answer it."
"No."
"It might be important."
"I know exactly what's important."
Charlotte leaned closer.
"Let me guess."
Eleanor sighed.
"My next blind date."
The phone continued ringing.
Eleanor turned it face down.
"I refuse."
Charlotte laughed.
"Good luck explaining that to Sofia."
Eleanor smiled despite herself.
She loved her mother.
But some battles were worth fighting.
And this one was definitely one of them.