Grace walked to a chair and sat.
For the first time since leaving the Hail house, she allowed her shoulders to relax.
She looked up at James. “How many days?” she asked.
James checked his folder. “Twenty-one days,” he answered. “Until the annual foundation summit. Until your late father’s legacy address. Until you officially take the seat.”
Grace nodded slowly.
“The countdown,” she said. “Twenty-one days.”
The Hail family did not know that the outreach program where Daniel met Grace was funded by the very foundation Grace was set to lead.
They did not know that Grace’s late father had designed the scholarship Daniel used to study abroad.
They did not know that Victor Hail’s biggest business contract depended on approval from a board seat Grace legally controlled.
They did not know because they had never bothered to ask who Grace truly was.
They only asked what she could bring to their table.
And when they believed she brought nothing, they tried to throw her away.
Grace stared at the wall, thoughtful. “Call the doctor,” she said. “I want full checks.”
“Yes, madam,” James replied.
“And call the foundation director. Tell her the summit proceeds as planned. The keynote address remains, and I will attend.”
James looked relieved. “Madam,” he said, “are you sure you want to reveal yourself so soon?”
Grace shook her head. “I am not revealing myself,” she said. “I am revealing them.”
James nodded slowly. “Understood,” he said.
Grace leaned back.
Outside, the evening sun began to drop.
