23
The ride back to Amanda's apartment was quiet, but it wasn't the kind of silence that felt uncomfortable. It was settled, easy in a way that surprised her.
She leaned her head against the cool leather seat, watching the blurred city lights pass through the window as the car smoothly navigated the streets.
Ericka sat beside her, relaxed but unreadable, fingers tapping idly against her thigh. She didn't speak, didn't fill the space with unnecessary words, and Amanda didn't feel the need to either.
She let the moment exist.
When the car finally rolled to a stop in front of her building, the driver stepped out to open her door. Amanda took a breath before sliding out, feeling the cool air wrap around her as she turned back toward the car.
Ericka had already stepped out as well, standing beside the open door, watching her with that familiar, steady gaze.
Amanda hesitated for half a second, then spoke. "Do you want to come up for a while?"
It wasn't a loaded question. She meant it exactly as it sounded—a simple offer, no expectations, no ulterior motives.
Just... more time.
Ericka held her gaze for a moment, something unreadable flickering in her expression.
Then, slowly, she smirked. "Rain check."
Amanda exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking her head. "Figured you'd say that."
Ericka tilted her head slightly. "Disappointed?"
Amanda shrugged. "No. I just think you're stalling."
That made Ericka chuckle, a rare, genuine sound that Amanda wasn't sure she'd ever heard before.
"I don't stall," Ericka said smoothly.
Amanda smirked. "Sure."
Ericka shook her head with amusement but didn't argue.
The moment stretched between them, lingering just long enough for Amanda to wonder if maybe—just maybe—Ericka was hesitating for the first time.
But then, Ericka nodded once, stepping back toward the car. "Goodnight, Amanda."
Amanda exhaled, stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets. "Goodnight, Ericka."
She turned, walking up the steps to her building without looking back.
Amanda ended the call with Samantha, still shaking her head at her best friend's wild theories. She tossed her phone onto the couch and stretched, thinking she could finally relax for the night.
Then, almost out of habit, she grabbed her laptop and checked her work email.
The moment she saw the subject line, her stomach dropped.
URGENT: Time Change for Tomorrow's Meeting
She clicked it open, scanning the contents quickly.
The meeting that was originally scheduled for 10:00 AM had suddenly been moved up to 8:00 AM—with zero warning.
And it wasn't just a simple time change.
The proposal documents Ericka was supposed to receive first thing in the morning had been revised and submitted without her approval.
The board was clearly trying to blindside her, forcing her into a negotiation before she had time to prepare.
Amanda's pulse quickened as she read through the attachments, her brain working on overdrive.
They thought they could catch Ericka off guard.
They thought wrong.
Without hesitation, she pulled up the correct proposal drafts, comparing them against the altered versions. They had slipped in clauses that would cut Ericka's control over certain decisions, effectively weakening her position in the deal.
Amanda's jaw tightened.
Not on her watch.
She rolled up her sleeves, grabbed another coffee, and got to work.
The next few hours blurred together—cross-referencing documents, correcting terms, drafting the counterarguments Ericka would need.
Every detail had to be airtight.
By the time 6:00 AM rolled around, Amanda's eyes burned from staring at her screen for so long, but she didn't care. The revised documents were done, every weak spot in the opposing argument highlighted, every loophole closed.
She reached for her phone, barely thinking before she typed the message.
Amanda: 911. Be at the office by 7:30.
She stared at the message for half a second before hitting send.
It was direct. Blunt. No explanations.
But Ericka would know exactly what it meant.
Amanda exhaled, closing her laptop and rubbing her temples.
There was no time for sleep now. She had an hour to get herself together, grab another coffee, and make sure Ericka Matthews walked into that boardroom knowing exactly what was waiting for her.
If they wanted a fight, they were going to get one.
Amanda didn't bother changing before leaving her apartment—there wasn't time. She grabbed her bag, threw on a jacket, and was out the door before the city had even fully woken up.
The streets were quiet, the sun barely starting to rise as she made her way to the office.
Her body was running on nothing but adrenaline and caffeine, but she didn't care. The moment she stepped into the building, her focus sharpened.
By 6:45 AM, she was in the conference room, setting up the revised proposal on the projector, printing extra copies of the correct documents, and highlighting key points Ericka would need to shut down any surprises.
At 7:10, she double-checked the seating arrangements, making sure Ericka would have everything within reach.
At 7:15, she went over her own notes. She needed to be prepared for whatever was coming.
At 7:20, her phone buzzed.
Ericka: I'm on my way up.
Amanda let out a breath, straightening her posture. Game time.
When the elevator doors opened at exactly 7:25 AM, Ericka stepped out—and she did not look happy.
She was dressed immaculately as always, but her expression was sharp, her eyes scanning Amanda the second she saw her.
"Tell me."
Amanda wasted no time.
"They moved the meeting up to 8:00 without notifying you. The new documents they submitted?" She handed Ericka a folder. "They made adjustments to key clauses—cutting your control over final approvals."
Ericka flipped through the pages quickly, her jaw tightening as she skimmed. "They think I won't notice."
"They think you won't be prepared."
Ericka's gaze snapped up to her, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "But I am."
Amanda nodded firmly. "I spent the night correcting their changes and preparing counterarguments. You'll have everything you need in front of you."
For a moment, Ericka just watched her, as if assessing how she had managed to catch all of this before she even stepped into the office.
Then—a slow smirk.
"You really don't sleep, do you?"
Amanda exhaled a laugh, shaking her head. "Not when they try to pull something like this."
Ericka closed the folder with a soft snap.
"Good," she murmured, stepping closer, lowering her voice just slightly. "Because now they're the ones who aren't prepared."
Amanda felt a rush of satisfaction at that.
She had seen Ericka handle high-stakes meetings before, but this?
This was going to be war.
And Amanda was ready.