Elena didn't turn around. She didn't need to.
Adrian Vale.
The name wasn't new. It floated around often enough in business conversations. A wealthy investor. A man who had disappeared for a while under quiet scandal and resurfaced stronger.
People loved stories like that.
Rise. Fall. Resurrection.
She stirred her tea, uninterested in the mythology of powerful men. It had nothing to do with her. The city was full of names that sounded important until you realized they were just men in expensive suits making calculated moves.
Her world was simpler. Contracts. Clients. Commission percentages. Monthly rent.
She finished lunch and returned to work without another thought about the conversation.
By eight, she was dressed, tailored trousers, fitted blouse, neutral heels. Polished, but not flashy. She wasn't trying to impress anyone. She was trying to close deals.
The office smelled like printer ink and overused air freshener. Lila was already there, scrolling through listings with a frown.
"You're early," Lila said without looking up.
"I'm always early."
"That's not healthy."
"It pays rent."
Lila snorted softly, and just like that, the day began.
Appointments. Walkthroughs. Phone calls. A young couple arguing quietly about square footage. An older man complaining about natural lighting. A landlord trying to inflate value beyond reason.
Elena handled each one with steady patience. Calm voice. Measured explanations. She knew how to guide conversations without dominating them. It was a skill she had learned over years, how to hold space without surrendering control.
Around noon, she stepped out to grab lunch at the small diner across the street. Nothing fancy. Familiar staff. Predictable menu.
She liked places that didn't surprise her.
While waiting for her order, two businessmen in suits took the table behind her. Their conversation wasn't hushed, just careless.
"…Vale's acquisition strategy is aggressive."
"He's always aggressive."
"They say he rebuilt everything in less than two years."
Elena didn't turn around. She didn't need to.
Adrian Vale.
The name wasn't new. It floated around often enough in business conversations. A wealthy investor. A man who had disappeared for a while under quiet scandal and resurfaced stronger.
People loved stories like that.
Rise. Fall. Resurrection.
She stirred her tea, uninterested in the mythology of powerful men. It had nothing to do with her. The city was full of names that sounded important until you realized they were just men in expensive suits making calculated moves.
Her world was simpler. Contracts. Clients. Commission percentages. Monthly rent.
She finished lunch and returned to work without another thought about the conversation.
By late afternoon, she was exhausted in the familiar way that came from productive work. Not drained, just used.
At home that evening, she kicked off her heels and let the quiet settle around her again. No dramatic music. No life-altering reflections. Just stillness.
She checked her planner for tomorrow's appointments.
Full schedule.
Good.
Outside, the city lights blinked on one by one, glittering in the distance. Somewhere in one of those towers, men like Adrian Vale probably negotiated numbers Elena would never see in her lifetime.
It didn't matter.
Her life was built on steadier ground.
And for now, that was enough