The conference room was silent.
Too silent.
Raven sat at the head of the table, dressed entirely in black.
Her mask covered half her face.
Across from her sat three executives who had spent the last twenty minutes trying to explain why they had failed her.
None of them dared look directly at her.
Raven slowly closed the file in front of her.
"You had one responsibility."
The oldest executive swallowed.
"Ms. Raven, we—"
"I didn't ask for an explanation."
The room went silent again.
Raven leaned back.
"You lost twelve million dollars because you ignored a contract clause that my legal department specifically warned you about."
"I'm sorry."
Raven's voice remained calm.
"Sorry doesn't recover twelve million dollars."
The man lowered his head.
Raven looked at the others.
"And none of you noticed?"
Nobody answered.
Her fingers tapped once against the table.
"Jane."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Terminate his contract."
The man's face went pale.
"Please, Ms. Raven—"
"And freeze his access to all company accounts."
"Please!"
Raven didn't even look at him.
"Next."
The remaining executives immediately straightened.
Raven's reputation wasn't built on kindness.
It was built on results.
Nobody at Apex Raven Global questioned her decisions.
Nobody challenged her authority.
And nobody was foolish enough to mistake her silence for weakness.
---
When the meeting finally ended, everyone hurried out.
Jane remained behind.
"You were particularly terrifying today."
Raven picked up another file.
"I was reasonable."
Jane laughed softly.
"Of course."
Raven continued reading.
Then her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Eleanor.
Something strange happened.
The coldness in Raven's expression disappeared.
Her shoulders relaxed.
The tension that had filled the room moments earlier simply vanished.
Jane stared at her.
Raven didn't notice.
She answered.
"Hello?"
Eleanor's voice came through.
"Am I disturbing you?"
Raven's voice immediately softened.
"No."
Jane's eyebrows rose.
Raven didn't notice that either.
"I just wanted to check on you," Eleanor said.
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
There was a small pause.
Then Eleanor asked,
"Have you eaten?"
Raven looked at the clock.
"No."
"Raven."
"I've been busy."
"You always say that."
Raven smiled.
"Are you scolding me?"
"Maybe."
Raven leaned back in her chair.
"What would you suggest?"
"Lunch."
Raven glanced at Jane.
Jane was trying very hard not to smile.
"Where?"
Eleanor gave her the name of a restaurant.
Raven immediately agreed.
"I'll pick you up."
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
Eleanor went quiet.
"Okay."
Raven smiled.
"I'll see you soon."
"See you."
The call ended.
Raven placed her phone on the desk.
Jane stared at her.
"What?"
Jane shook her head.
"Nothing."
Raven narrowed her eyes.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you know something."
Jane smiled.
"I just watched the scariest woman in Chicago turn into a completely different person because Eleanor called."
Raven's expression hardened.
"I did not."
"You did."
"I didn't."
Jane laughed.
Raven picked up another file.
"Get back to work."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jane walked toward the door.
Then she stopped.
"Raven?"
"What?"
"You're smiling."
Raven immediately touched her lips.
The smile disappeared.
"I am not."
Jane walked out laughing.
Raven stared at the closed door.
Then she looked at her phone again.
And without realizing it—
she smiled.
To be continued…