bChapter /bb18 /b

Yana’s voice broke the moment. “Freya”

Pestering a guest with questions was bad manners, and Yana was losing patience,

Freya’s cheeks reddened, and she dipped her head. “I’m really sorry. It just sounded like such a crazy coincidence, I got carried away”

Nadia brushed it off with a smile. “No big deal, Freya. It’s just spicy gossip. If you want the full story, let’s grab coffee sometime.”

Freya grinned and nodded. “That’d be great.”

Skr’s gaze followed Nadia As she walked away, her

mind flipping through old memories. Have we met before the wondered

She thought hard but came up nk. With a mental slug, she let it go.

it wouldn’t matter if Nadia knew about her past. Prison had made her tough. She wasn’t afraid of anything now.

After waving off thest guests, Yana handed Skr and Freya each a ss of warm milk.

“Don’t stay up toote, girls. Get bsome /bsleep.” She headed to her room.

Yana slipped into bed but couldn’t stop btossing /band turning. Finally, she poked Carlos bawake/b,

“Carlos, I’m still worried,” she said, her voice tonse. “Have someone look deeper into Skr’s bpast/bb./b”

Carlos, half–asleep, sat up fast. “Babe, byou /bscared the heck out of me!”

“Sleep, that’s all you

you do!” Yana huffed, smacking his arm.

Carlos grabbed her hand, kissing her knuckles. “Easy, babe. You’re gonna bruise yourself, and then I be the one crying”

“Quiet!” Yana whispered.

Carlos zipped his lips.

“Did

d you hear me?” Yana asked, ring.

“Crystal clear,” Carlos bsaid/b, nodding “I’ll get someone on it tomorrow, I swear.”

“Now. Do it now!” Yana pushed.

Carlos grabbed his phone, already dialing. “Okay, okay, I’m on it. They’ll start tonight”

After the call, Yana still couldn’t rx. She slid out of bed and tiptoed to Skr’s room,

Seeing the small shape under the nkets, her worries eased. She tucked the nket around Skr, lingering a moment before heading back to bb /b

Once she left, Skr’s eyes popped open.

In the dark, they sparkled blike /bstars.

The next morning, Skr walked out in a sleek zer and cks.

Over breakfast, she waved off bYana’s /boffer to drive her to the officeb, /bgrabbing her keys

Her first day as CEO had the wholepany buzzing

Whi

hispers about the new boss spread like crazy.

“I heard she’s the chairman’s long lost daughter, one worker said, leaning over a cubicle

“No bway/b,” another snorted. “Why would he give a failingpany like this to his kid?

“Who knows what he’s thinking?” the first said, shrugging. “We just keep our heads down and do our work”

“Fair,” the second agreed. “Let’s get moving b

before the new boss catches us cking First impressions count

–

The chatter faded, and everyone hurried back to their desks.

When Skr arrived, the executive team bwas /balready seated in the conference broom/b, waiting

She scanned the room, standing btall/b. “Morning everyone. I’m your new CEO, Skr Lambert. I’m excited to work with you all to turn thispany around. Let’s do this.”

The executives, pros at saying the right thing, jumped in

“You’ve got our full support, Ms. Lambert,” one said smoothly.

“Your drive is impressiveb, /bespecially so young,” another added with a nod

Skr tapped her knuckles on the table, cutting them off. “Enough with the sweet talk.”

“Let’s not waste time,” she said, her voice sharp. “We’re here to work.”

“From now on,” she went on, “management jobs are based on results. If I catch anyone cking or sucking up instead of doing their job, you’re gone. Phidon Pharmacy doesn’t carry dead weight.”

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