One month had passed since the tabloid story broke about Victoria Sharp and her executive assistant. One month since Elena Vasquez had launched what should have been a devastating first strike against her longtime rival. One month of watching her carefully orchestrated plan dissolve into nothing.
Elena stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror of her Manhattan penthouse. The woman looking back at her appeared flawless as always—impeccably applied makeup, dark hair falling in perfect waves, designer suit without a wrinkle. But closer inspection revealed the subtle signs of strain: the tightness around her eyes, the barely perceptible tension in her jaw, the slight darkness beneath her lower lashes that even the most expensive concealer couldn't fully disguise.
She had been awake since 4 AM, her mind racing with calculations and contingencies. Sleep had become an increasingly rare commodity over the past four weeks.
"You look perfect," Elena told her reflection, her Madrid accent more pronounced in these private moments. "Absolutely perfect."
The lie tasted bitter on her tongue.
Her phone chimed with a reminder: Executive committee meeting, 9 AM. Elena straightened her shoulders and moved away from the mirror. Today would be different. Today she would regain control of the narrative that had somehow slipped through her fingers.
At twenty-nine, Elena had achieved what most executives wouldn't accomplish in a lifetime. As COO of Meridian Technologies' North American division, she controlled billions in assets and thousands of employees. Her name regularly appeared on "30 Under 30" lists, her origin story—daughter of Spanish tech mogul Guillermo Vasquez, brilliant business graduate, ruthless innovator—recounted in business magazines with reverent tones.
But none of that mattered as long as Victoria Sharp remained standing.
The memory of Victoria's press conference response to the tabloid allegations still burned in Elena's mind. Instead of denial or defensiveness, Victoria had appeared composed, almost amused by the accusations.
"I've always maintained that my personal life is my own," Victoria had stated to the assembled press. "But when baseless accusations threaten to undermine the reputation of valuable team members, clarification becomes necessary. James Mitchell's career advancement at Sharp Innovations has been based solely on his exceptional performance and strategic acumen, documented extensively in our HR records which we've made available to independent verification."
With those simple words, Victoria had transformed potential scandal into an opportunity to showcase her company's commitment to transparency and merit-based advancement. The business world had quickly moved on, dismissing the story as a failed attempt at corporate sabotage.
Which, of course, it was.
Elena's driver was waiting when she emerged from her building. "Good morning, Ms. Vasquez," he said, opening the car door.
She slid into the backseat without responding, immediately opening her laptop to review the quarterly projections she would be presenting at today's meeting. The numbers blurred before her eyes, her mind drifting back to that phone call a month ago.
That video call between Victoria and her father a month ago. Elena fully ready to counter Victoria waiting in her father's office had heard her voice coming from her father's laptop rather than from the physical presence. The fact she was outplayed had cut deep—Victoria reaching out directly to Guillermo Vasquez, ostensibly to "discuss business." Elena had later discovered it was merely a ploy to lure her out of the country, a calculated distraction that had worked all too well. She'd wasted precious days chasing a phantom threat while Victoria solidified her position back home.
"Ms. Vasquez? We've arrived."
The driver's voice pulled Elena back to the present. She closed her laptop with a sharp snap and exited the car, striding through the glass doors of Meridian Technologies' Manhattan headquarters with practiced authority.
Employees scattered before her, mumbling hasty good mornings as she passed. Elena had cultivated this effect deliberately—the respectful fear, the careful deference. Power was most effective when it created distance.
"Ms. Vasquez," her assistant Clara said, falling into step beside her. "I've compiled the reports for this morning's meeting and sent the final numbers to your secure server."
"And the client retention analysis?" Elena asked, punching the elevator button for the executive floor.
Clara hesitated. "It's... not complete. The data team requested another forty-eight hours."
Elena's jaw tightened. "The meeting is in thirty minutes. I need those numbers now."
"I understand, but they're still verifying—"
"I don't care what they're verifying. I want those numbers on my desk in fifteen minutes."
The elevator doors closed on Clara's worried expression. Alone in the ascending cabin, Elena allowed herself a moment of unguarded frustration. Everything was taking longer than it should. Every department seemed to be moving at half-speed. Or perhaps it was her own impatience, her inability to focus on anything except Victoria Sharp's continued success.
Elena's phone vibrated with an incoming text message from Parker: Sharp and Amara spotted entering Hauser Analytics headquarters this morning. Meeting scheduled with CEO Katherine Days.
Elena's fingers tightened around the phone. Hauser Analytics was one of Meridian's largest clients, responsible for nearly eighteen percent of their annual revenue. Victoria had no business being anywhere near Katherine Days.
She typed back: Details?
Parker's response was immediate: Meeting scheduled last week. Topic unknown. Days has accepted meeting with Sharp Innovations.
Elena swore under her breath. Victoria Sharp had a disturbing ability to maintain relationships with strategically valuable people. Her network was extensive, built on what appeared to be genuine connections rather than the transactional relationships that dominated the industry.
The elevator doors opened onto the executive floor. Elena stalked toward her office, barking orders at her assistant through the open door.
"Get Katherine Days on the phone. Now. Cancel whatever she's doing."
Clara's expression tightened with anxiety. "Ms. Days has a strict policy against interruptions during vendor meetings."
"We are not a vendor," Elena snapped. "We are their primary technology partner. Get her on the phone."
While Clara attempted to reach Katherine Days, Elena reviewed her notes for the executive committee meeting. The quarterly numbers were strong, but not exceptional. Growth was steady but had flattened compared to previous projections. The board would have questions she wasn't prepared to answer.
"Ms. Vasquez?" Clara appeared in the doorway. "Ms. Days' assistant says she's unavailable until after lunch. I've scheduled a call for 2 PM."
Elena's hand tightened around her pen. "Did you explain it was urgent?"
"Yes. She said—"
"Fine. Get me Raymond. I want to know exactly what's happening with our Hauser contract."
Clara disappeared again, leaving Elena alone with her mounting anxiety. What was Victoria doing at Hauser Analytics? Was it a coincidence, or did Victoria somehow know that Meridian was vulnerable with that particular client? Had Elena's own team leaked information to Sharp Innovations?
The thought sent a chill through her. If Victoria had a source inside Meridian, Elena's entire strategy was compromised. All her careful planning, all her precise maneuvers could be anticipated and countered.
Raymond appeared in her doorway, tablet in hand. "You wanted to see me, Ms. Vasquez?"
Elena gestured him inside. "Close the door. What's happening with the Hauser contract?"
Raymond—thin, nervous, brilliant with numbers but terrible with people—shifted uncomfortably. "It's up for renewal in sixty days. Our project team has been working with their technical staff on specifications for the next phase."
"And what does Victoria Sharp want with them?"
Raymond blinked rapidly. "I—I don't know. This is the first I'm hearing about Sharp being involved with Hauser."
"Don't lie to me," Elena said, her voice dropping to a dangerous softness. "If there's a problem with our largest client, I need to know now."
"There's no problem," Raymond insisted, sweat beading at his hairline despite the office's careful climate control. "The Hauser team seems satisfied with our deliverables. The contract renewal is proceeding according to schedule."
Elena studied him, searching for signs of deception. Raymond had been with Meridian for six years, had been promoted twice under her leadership. He had no reason to lie unless Victoria had somehow gotten to him.
The thought was irrational—she knew it even as it formed—but once present, it refused to dissipate. What if Victoria had targeted her key team members? What if everything had been a distraction while Victoria undermined Elena's support structure from within?