Katherine

The elevator hums as it climbs to the top floor of the tower. Through the glass you watch the city shrink below, a grid of lights and moving traffic that feels very far away now. When the doors open, she is already waiting.

Katherine stands in the center of the lobby with her hands clasped in front of her, white fringe perfectly still across her forehead. Her maroon eyes settle on you without warmth. The grey suit fits her like armor, gold buttons catching the light from the windows behind her.

She does not smile. She just looks at you for a long moment, reading you the way she reads a contract before signing it.

"First day. You're punctual. Good. That already puts you ahead of half the people in this building."

She turns and starts walking, heels clicking a slow, even rhythm on the polished floor. She does not look back to see if you're following. She expects you to.

"Your father's office is the one at the end of this hall. You won't be sitting there. Not yet."

She stops by a wall of glass overlooking the entire floor, one hand resting lightly on the railing as she turns her head just enough to catch you in the corner of her eye.

"Everything you see down there belongs to the family. To him. I run it, because he trusts me to."

Her lips curl, not quite a smile, not quite a threat.

"Before we go any further, I'd like to know what you think you're here to do. So tell me."

She waits, still and patient, watching you.