Chapter 188: Your problem
The conference room buzzed with low conversation, the steady shuffle of papers, and the occasional chime of a phone on silent. Valerie sat at the head of the table like a queen in waiting, her eyes sharp, the faintest smirk playing at her lips as Mara entered.
"Well, well, the prodigal queen returns," Valerie teased, gesturing for Mara to take her seat at the head of the table while she takes the one beside her. "Took you long enough."
Mara cracked a small smile, setting her files down. "Careful, Val. I might just start getting comfortable again."
The meeting moved along in waves, updates on ongoing projects, financial reports, upcoming charity galas and then came the thing that snagged Mara’s attention.
"There’s a need for immediate humanitarian work in Los Vinania," one of the directors announced, laying out a dossier. "Supplies, mobile clinics, shelters for displaced families. The usual, but the situation’s volatile. We need to move fast."
A low hum of agreement circled the room.
Valerie turned to Mara, brow raised. "We should send a team in the next forty-eight hours. Could lead it yourself if you want. Could be good PR and you’ve got connections down there." Connections. Rafael.
The name sat heavy in Mara’s chest for a beat. She could surprise him, show up when he least expected it. And God knew it wasn’t like her to miss a fight when people needed her.
But... Steve. That call from this morning gnawed at her now. He’d been acting strange, tension carved into his face like words on stone, then that hushed phone call when he thought she wasn’t paying attention.