I adjusted the fabric of the baby carrier, looking down at Lily. Her tiny hand rested flat against my blouse, her warm breath gentle against my collarbone. At just four months old, she had somehow become the sole anchor keeping me upright.
“We’re going to be fine,” I whispered softly. I wasn’t entirely certain if I was reassuring her or convincing myself.
When the elevator doors parted, the executive suite unfolded in a grand display of glass, polished walnut, and understated wealth. Executive assistants moved briskly behind immaculate desks, and phones chimed at a discreet volume. The entire floor was engineered to insulate powerful men from any form of disruption.
But disruption had just breached the perimeter. And she was carrying a baby.
The Room Went Silent
The receptionist looked up from her monitor and froze instantly.
“Mrs. Vance,” she stammered, rising from her ergonomic chair far too quickly. “Mr. Vance is currently in an exceptionally strict, private session.”
