Chapter 4 — Echoes of Instinct

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing the polished marble floors of the executive wing. Isla stepped out, her heels clicking with a precision that matched her mood. Control. Control was everything.

But today, something felt off.

The city skyline stretched out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting an icy glow over Hartman Tower. Isla’s reflection stared back at her, the sharp angles of her face framed by the sleek ponytail she had tied that morning with deliberate care. Her amber eyes, hidden behind her usual frames, gleamed faintly—too much. She hated that. Hated the reminder that she was not *just* Isla Hartman, CEO of Hartman Enterprises.