Late one evening, Mia received Eleanor’s email directly. It was stripped of all pretense of pride. “I hope we can move forward. Please advise what you need from us.” She replied in kind: “Transparency, accurate reporting, and timely deliverables. Nothing more.” The hierarchy had inverted without a single raised voice.
Two weeks later, the revised proposal landed on her desk. It was precise, compliant, and finally professional. She approved it. This was not some favor, but she approved because it met the standard. The next morning, the Whitmore Group’s funding came through. For once, Eleanor’s survival depended on someone she couldn’t control.