The evening sun painted the tall glass windows of Annabelle’s office with soft gold. The city below buzzed with life, but up here on the twenty-third floor, everything was quiet.
Her desk was covered with papers, contracts, and congratulatory letters. The latest business magazine with her face on the cover lay open. The headline read, “Annabelle: The Woman Who Redefined Success.”
She stared at it for a long time. Her smile on the page looked bright and confident, but it didn’t feel like her anymore.
“Miss Hale,” her assistant’s voice broke the silence from the doorway. “The board is ready for your approval on the new proposal.”
Annabelle blinked. “Right. Tell them I’ll sign it in the morning.”
The assistant nodded and left quietly.
When the door closed, Annabelle leaned back in her
