Tom and Sureiyan sat across from each other, talking over the plan.
"We set the meeting for tomorrow night," Sureiyan said, her voice steady. "The warehouse on the east side. My people will hold the perimeter, but the rest is on you."
Tom nodded. "I'll scout the area first. If I can get the drop on their leader, this ends quickly."
"It won't be easy," Sureiyan warned. "They've got more men. Better weapons. If they realize what's happening, it'll get messy fast."
"That's why I need time to survey," Tom said. "No surprises."
Sureiyan studied him, then nodded. "Fine. Just don't take too long. Once I signal, it's go time."
Tom leaned back, arms crossed. "If they decide to hit first?"
"We're ready for that," she said, glancing at her bodyguard. "We'll buy you time to do your part."
Tom nodded. "It is decided then."
The next evening, Sureiyan climbed into her SUV, her bodyguard sliding in beside her. Four cars of armed men followed close behind.
In the car as they drove, Sureiyan glanced at her bodyguard, smirking. "Why so glum? You look like you're heading to a funeral."
The bodyguard shifted uncomfortably in her tracksuit. "Boss, why'd you let Tom have so much say in the plan? You're usually the one calling the shots."
Sureiyan tilted her head, as if considering the question. "Because he's smarter than me in situations like this. It only makes sense to let him lead."
The bodyguard frowned. "It's disrespectful. You're in charge, not him."
Sureiyan chuckled, the sound low and deliberate. It caught the bodyguard off guard. "Disrespectful? My dear, there are many ways to achieve your goals. Not all of them require dominance."
The bodyguard's frustration boiled over. "You'll lose the respect of your people if you keep letting him take the reins."
Silence filled the SUV.
Sureiyan's smile faded, and her eyes locked on the bodyguard, cold and unyielding. The change was so sudden it made the woman stiffen. Her throat tightened as she swallowed hard.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the intensity disappeared. Sureiyan's smile returned, calm and disarming. "Noted," she said softly, watching the bodyguard exhale in relief.
She leaned in slightly. "That fear you just felt? Tom would have reacted differently. That's why I treat him differently."
The bodyguard blinked, confused. "How would Tom have reacted?"
Sureiyan turned to the window, her gaze distant. A faint smile formed on her lips. "Even I don't know."
The answer—or lack of it—left the bodyguard more unsettled than before the conversation had started.