Three days had passed since the meeting at Apex Raven Global.
Eleanor sat behind her desk at Vance Capital Holdings, staring at the revised partnership agreement.
Sebastian stood in front of her with a tablet in his hand.
"Their legal team accepted most of our amendments."
Eleanor looked through the pages.
"Most?"
"There are still three clauses they want negotiated."
She sighed.
"Of course there are."
Sebastian smiled.
"You didn't expect it to be easy."
"No. But I expected them to be reasonable."
"They are reasonable."
Eleanor looked up.
"You're defending Raven now?"
"I'm defending the contract."
"Of course."
Sebastian smiled innocently.
Eleanor returned to the document.
The truth was, she wasn't bothered by the negotiations.
What bothered her was that she kept thinking about the meeting.
Not the deal.
Not the numbers.
Raven.
There was something unusual about the mysterious CEO.
Eleanor had met hundreds of powerful Alphas throughout her career. Most of them relied heavily on their status and expected Omegas to accommodate them.
Raven hadn't.
She hadn't treated Eleanor like an Omega at all.
She had treated her like an equal.
Eleanor found that refreshing.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
Charlotte walked inside without waiting for permission.
"You're still working?"
Eleanor didn't look up.
"Some of us have companies to run."
Charlotte walked around the desk.
"Some of us also know how to take a break."
Genevieve followed her inside.
"I told her you would be working."
"And you still came?"
"We were bored."
Eleanor finally looked up.
"You both need hobbies."
Charlotte sat down.
"We have hobbies."
"Which are?"
"Annoying you."
Genevieve laughed.
Eleanor shook her head.
Her phone rang.
She glanced at it.
Mom.
Charlotte immediately noticed.
"Don't answer."
"I wasn't planning to."
The call ended.
A second later, another call came.
Eleanor stared at the screen.
Charlotte burst out laughing.
"She really doesn't give up."
Eleanor declined the call.
Then a message appeared.
Sofia: Dinner tonight. No excuses.
Eleanor sighed.
"She has ordered me to dinner."
Genevieve smiled.
"Go."
"Why?"
"Because she's your mother."
"And because," Charlotte added, "she'll probably introduce you to another Alpha."
Eleanor groaned.
"I knew there was a catch."
That evening, Eleanor arrived at her parents' estate.
The Vance mansion had always been a place of warmth despite its size.
Sofia greeted her at the entrance.
"My darling."
Eleanor hugged her.
"Hello, Mom."
Sofia held her at arm's length.
"You look tired."
"I work."
"You work too much."
Eleanor smiled.
"And you worry too much."
Sofia kissed her cheek.
"Come inside."
Mark was already sitting at the dining table.
"There's my daughter."
Eleanor smiled.
"Dad."
He stood and hugged her.
"How is the company?"
"Good."
"And the new partnership?"
Eleanor paused.
"It's progressing."
Mark nodded.
"Apex Raven Global?"
"Yes."
"I've heard good things about them."
"So have I."
Edward was sitting at the other end of the table.
He looked up from his phone.
"Apex Raven Global?"
Eleanor looked at him.
"Yes."
Edward gave a small laugh.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Eleanor narrowed her eyes.
"If you have something to say, say it."
Edward shrugged.
"I just don't understand why you're doing business with a company whose CEO hides behind a mask."
Mark's expression hardened.
"Edward."
"What? I'm only asking."
Eleanor remained calm.
"Her face doesn't determine her business ability."
Edward scoffed.
"Maybe."
Eleanor looked at him.
"Is there a problem?"
"No."
"Good."
Sofia quickly changed the subject.
"So, Eleanor…"
Eleanor already knew that tone.
"No."
Her mother blinked.
"I haven't said anything."
"You don't have to."
Mark laughed.
Sofia sighed.
"You're my daughter. I want you to have someone."
"I have people."
"You know what I mean."
Eleanor took a sip of water.
"I don't need a blind date."
Sofia smiled.
"Just one."
"Mom."
"One dinner."
"No."
Sofia looked at Mark.
"Talk to your daughter."
Mark raised his hands.
"Leave me out of this."
Eleanor laughed.
For the first time in days, the tension around her shoulders eased.
But when she returned home later that night, her thoughts returned to business.
She walked into her office and found Sebastian waiting.
"You're still here?"
"I wanted to give you an update."
Eleanor removed her coat.
"What happened?"
"Apex Raven Global sent another message."
Her attention immediately sharpened.
"What did they say?"
"They want the next meeting tomorrow."
Eleanor nodded.
"Good."
Sebastian handed her the document.
"And Ms. Vance…"
"Yes?"
"They requested that you meet with Raven personally."
Eleanor looked at the invitation.
For some reason, her heart beat a little faster.
She quickly dismissed the feeling.
"Tell them I'll be there."
Sebastian nodded.
"Of course."
After he left, Eleanor stood alone in her office.
She looked at the invitation again.
Apex Raven Global.
Meeting with Raven.
She smiled faintly.
"Let's see what you're hiding behind that mask."
Across Blackwood Heights, Raven stood in her private office.
Andrea sat opposite her.
The room was dimly lit.
A black folder lay between them.
"We found something," Andrea said.
Raven looked up.
"About the masked organization?"
Andrea nodded.
"Some of their people have been moving through the northern side of Blackwood Heights."
"Names?"
"Nothing reliable."
Raven frowned.
"Then what did you find?"
Andrea pushed a photograph across the desk.
Raven picked it up.
A masked figure stood outside a warehouse.
No face.
No name.
Nothing identifiable.
But on the wall behind the figure was a symbol Raven hadn't seen before.
She studied it carefully.
"Whoever they are," Andrea said, "they're organized."
Raven placed the photograph down.
"Good."
Andrea stared at her.
"Good?"
Raven leaned back.
"It means they're not careless."
Andrea sighed.
"You're enjoying this."
"No."
Raven's eyes returned to the photograph.
"I'm interested."
Her phone rang.
Jane's name appeared on the screen.
Raven answered.
"Yes?"
"Ma'am, the Vance Capital Holdings meeting has been confirmed for tomorrow."
Raven glanced at Andrea.
"Good."
"And Ms. Vance will be attending personally."
Raven's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Understood."
She ended the call.
Andrea noticed immediately.
"Eleanor Vance?"
Raven looked at her.
"Yes."
Andrea smiled.
"You sound interested."
"She's a competent businesswoman."
"That's not what I asked."
Raven gave her a cold look.
Andrea laughed.
"Fine. I'll leave you alone."
She stood.
At the door, she turned back.
"Don't forget tomorrow's meeting."
Raven returned her attention to the photograph.
"I won't."
The door closed.
Raven looked at the picture one last time.
Then she looked toward the city outside.
Tomorrow would bring another business meeting.
But something told her that Eleanor Vance was going to become far more important than a business partner.
She simply didn't know why yet.