"Don't worry too much," I said, watching Evelyn's hands tremble slightly as she gripped the steering wheel. "Your company will bounce back from this."
She glanced at me with a wan smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I wish I had your confidence, Ethan. We're hemorrhaging contracts by the hour."
The morning traffic was lighter than usual, but Evelyn's anxiety filled the car like a suffocating presence. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and I could see the toll this crisis was taking on her normally composed demeanor.
"Isabella Cruz isn't known for her patience," she continued, her voice tight with stress. "If we can convince her to speak with the other Chamber members, maybe we can stop the bleeding."
I studied her profile as she navigated through the city streets. The proud, confident CEO who had faced down business rivals and hostile takeovers now looked fragile, almost brittle.
"Tell me about her," I said.
