Adela leaned against the cool elevator wall, rolling her neck to ease the tension from a long day. The familiar ding signaled the elevator’s stop, and the doors opened to reveal a poised and elegant woman stepping inside.
Adela instinctively moved to the side, creating space even though there was no need; they were the only two in the elevator. Something about the woman’s presence commanded respect. She exuded a quiet grace, her faint floral perfume adding to the aura of sophistication.
As the elevator began its descent, the woman turned to Adela with a soft but clear voice. “Are you Adela?”
Startled, Adela blinked. How does she know my name? she wondered, but she nodded out of politeness. “Yes, I am.”
The woman smiled gently, her demeanor warm yet unreadable. “I thought so.”
Before A
