n's

signs that day wi

to be

Serena Winthrop. It

rena's daughter? I could no

. And now, five years later, she is running a

I considered the

answers and w

ived at the company earl

a potential collaboration, but I wasn't go

CEO and, more crucially, if th

mployees seemed eager to impress me, pitching ideas

ention was

you can see, we've put together a detailed proposal fo

air and crossed my

nt at this meeting. If she's not here, I'm afraid

s exchanged nervous glances, app

Winthrop is a very busy woman. She do

ign deals without first meeting with the person in charge. I

y understood how crucial this rela

em stood up. "Excuse us for a moment, Mr. Winters,

na's

ng some reports when I he

said withou

pprehensive. "Ms. Seren

th a frown. "What

ers. He refuses to proceed with the colla

t skips

a voice identical to his yesterday, and he was

dle it?" I asked, attem

ed on meeting you. If you don't

tle alternative. "Alright.

er and followed Emma t

ened, all eyes

e he was

ze fixed on mine. For a little p

Ryan had grown older and more matu

y employees announced, s

s Mr. W

I responded sternl

into a small smir

asant smile. "

got through it. I couldn't let my feeling

quired, taking a seat at

d fixed on me throu

sing on the specifics of the partnership whi

n's

the room, and I recog

ars. She still exuded the same confidence and pres

She kept her responses brief and professional,

of the talk, paying little

g about her and the lit

cluded, I stood up a

formal tone. "I'd like to ha

y gazed at her with anticipation, ev

his way." She escorted me to her office,

t and immaculate as I re

eat," she added,

er closely as she took h

?" she enquired, foldin

s. "You, Serena.

?" she enquired, pr

dded with a harder tone. "The little gi

ed she was about to tell me. But as she opened her mout

caller ID, as she

he other end, but her pale fac

nquired, her voice qui

ore she rose up abrupt

t away," she replie

I enquired while

ds the door. "My daughter." She was injur

here." I replied, praying

apprehensive, but s