Chapter 6

Monday morning arrived with the kind of quiet confidence Amelia had learned to wear like perfume.

At Satin and Sage’s parking lot, her car rolled into its designated space smoothly, the engine cutting off with a soft hum. Amelia stepped out, the early sun catching immediately on her smart, deliberate dressing. She wore a tailored cream blazer cinched lightly at the waist over a silk emerald blouse, the fabric flowing just enough to soften the sharp lines of authority she carried so naturally. A pencil skirt hugged her hips without trying too hard, falling neatly to her knees, while nude stilettos elevated her elegant, controlled and unmistakably powerful posture. Her hair was pulled into a low, sleek bun, minimal makeup highlighting her cheekbones, a subtle gloss on her lips. The ring— new, glittering, impossible to miss— rested on her finger like a quiet declaration.

She reached into the backseat, retrieved her structured leather bag, then clicked the car door shut with