Chapter 6: Between Power and Pressure
By Tuesday morning, the entire floor was buzzing. Something had shifted in the air more than just rumors of expansions and acquisitions. It was the way people moved with urgency, the way eyes lingered longer on her when she passed. Miss Sinclair could feel it.
She was no longer just the assistant. She had entered Leonard Thorne's inner circle. And everyone knew what that meant.
Pressure.
Power.
And proximity to danger.
Tuesday, 9:15 AM.
Miss Sinclair was halfway through organizing a report when her phone screen lit up again.
From: Mr. Leonard Thorne
Subject: Observation Deck. Now.
No explanation. No subject. Just now.
She hesitated for a beat before grabbing her blazer and heading to the top floor. The observation deck wasn't used often. It was a sleek, glass-paneled rooftop space reserved for "executive reflection." In other words, where decisions were made far away from noise and witnesses.
When the elevator doors opened, Leonard was already there, standing near the glass wall that overlooked the city. The morning sun etched a sharp line across his profile.
"Miss Sinclair," he said without turning. "Do you believe in instincts?"
She blinked at the question. "I believe in logic."
He glanced back at her, amused. "Pity. Instinct is what keeps people alive in this business."
She didn't reply. She had learned to let his words hang and wait.
Leonard turned fully now, his expression unreadable. "There's a board meeting tomorrow. I want you to attend."
Her eyes widened slightly. But I'm not
"You're ready," he interrupted, his voice firm. "I need someone in that room I can trust. And you've proven yourself useful."
Useful.
The word stung more than she expected. But she nodded. "I'll be there."
Leonard stepped closer, his voice lower. "They'll try to undermine you. Question you. See how far they can push. Don't let them."
Her throat tightened, but she managed a calm, "Understood."
He studied her for a long moment. "You're adapting faster than most. But you should know, Miss Sinclair there's no manual for this. The higher you climb, the sharper the knives."
Wednesday, 10:00 AM.
The boardroom felt colder than usual.
Ten men and women sat at the long obsidian table, each with eyes that had seen more power plays than most could dream of. Miss Sinclair entered, her steps confident even if her stomach twisted in quiet knots.
Leonard followed shortly after, his presence instantly shifting the room's atmosphere. As he took his seat at the head of the table, he offered a small nod to her.
"Let's begin," he said.
The meeting unfolded with ruthless precision. Projections, acquisitions, resistance. Every topic was laced with subtle threats and veiled motives. And when the conversation turned to the expansion strategy, Leonard tilted his head slightly just enough for her to know it was her turn.
Miss Sinclair stood.
Calm. Composed.
She outlined the partnership plan, addressed concerns before they were raised, and countered objections with data sharp enough to silence the room. Her voice didn't shake. Her gaze didn't waver.
When she finished, a heavy silence settled.
Then, slowly, one of the board members nodded. "Impressive. Where did you find her, Thorne?"
Leonard didn't smile, but there was something coldly satisfied in his tone. "She wasn't found. She earned her seat."
After the meeting, she stepped into the hallway, trying to steady her breath. She had done it. But her relief was short-lived.
Leonard appeared behind her, his expression unreadable as always.
"You handled yourself well."
She turned. "Thank you."
"But don't mistake their approval for loyalty," he added. "They respect power. Nothing else."
"Then I'll make sure they see mine," she said quietly.
For a moment, his eyes flickered with something..was it pride? Or curiosity?
"Good," he murmured. "Then we understand each other."
That evening, as Miss Sinclair sat alone in her office, a single thought echoed louder than all the applause or backhanded compliments:
She was rising.
But in Leonard Thorne's world, rise too fast and you burn.