When Emily called Carla to ask her for lunch, she immediately sensed an extra cheerfulness in Carla's voice. Maybe she's already heard the news about Alex returning to Stratton Enterprises, Emily thought. As she made her way to the restaurant, she spotted Carla already waiting at their reserved table by the window, waving enthusiastically with a wide smile. It was a refreshing change—over the past few weeks, Carla had been tirelessly handling everything for the company while Emily managed the Stratton Enterprise. Each time they met, Carla had been visibly worn out, the toll of long days etched across her face.
But today, Carla looked different. Her face glowed, her eyes sparkled, and there was a radiance that Emily hadn't seen in a while. Maybe Kai had been helping her more, both personally and professionally, which made things manageable. But there was something else in Carla's demeanour—something Emily couldn't quite put her finger on.
