anorama of the Manhattan skyline. Adelina walked to the massive mahogany desk, her grandf

r grandfather used to keep little treasures. She pulled it open.

ie," he'd said, his eyes twinkling. "It opens the future." It was a symbol, a promise. For it to be gone felt like a violation, like a core piece of her grandfath

nded her immediate attention. She pushed the thoug

as worse than she had imagined. Starlight's traditional retail sector was a sinking ship. To hit a ten percent profit increase, she

r phone and dial

the phone, nearly deafening her. "You actually kicked th

o the point. "The top venture capital firms in the city.

rivate members-only club off Madison Avenue. Clara slid an i

e screen, dismissing the first

finger

s a logo of a stylized go

Not them. The man who runs that plac

andsome face of Landon Evans

er. "Your... situation... with Gage humiliated their entire f

dedicated to digital transformation for legacy brands," she said, her voice clinical. "Starlight is the perfect target for th

ade a call, pulled some strings, and a few minutes later, wrote down a p

iet hallway, took a de

elina stated her name and her purpose.

ersation. Then the assistant came back on the line. "Mr. Evans can see you tomorro

lm slick with sweat. Sh

e sky began to lighten. She built a new business plan, a new pitch deck. She centered it

nds, she looked at her reflection. Her eyes

t, sharp and aggressive. A slash of bright red lipstick.

as no longer a runaway. She was a warrior, ma