The student who received number 1 was a shy girl seated in the back row. She stood up timidly, her hands nervously gripping the hem of her skirt.
"H-Hello. I’m Chelsey Morgan. I’ll recite a poem for you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Then, she began reciting "Halfway Down" by A. A. Milne. Despite her timid start, her soft voice carried the rhythm of the poem beautifully. When she finished, Miss Cooper started clapping enthusiastically.
The whole class soon joined in, applauding Chelsey’s effort. A small, proud smile formed on her face as she sat down.
"Number 2, please stand up and introduce yourself," Miss Cooper announced.
A confident boy stood up from the middle row. His smile was bright, and his energy infectious.
"Hello, everyone! I’m Klein Moretti. I’ll also recite a poem for you. Mine is ’Who Has Seen the Wind?’ by Christina Rossetti."
He recited the poem with a serious expression and clear enunciation, though the poem’s deeper meaning was likely beyond the understanding of most six-year-olds in the room. Still, the class clapped politely, and Klein beamed as he sat back in his seat. Updates are released by novel[f]ire.net
Several more students followed, some reciting poems, others sharing jokes or singing short rhymes.
Then came number 18, Freya.
She stood up slowly, her small hands resting at her sides. Her calm, confident eyes scanned the classroom.
"Hello. I’m Freya Raynor," she said in a clear, steady voice. "I will sing a song for you."
She took a deep breath, and then, in her soft, melodic voice, she began to sing:
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..."
Her voice rang out sweet and heartfelt, filled with emotion. There was a gentle warmth to her tone that made everyone pause, even the kids who had been fidgeting or whispering moments ago.
On the other side of the camera feed, Eleanor sat frozen. Watching through her surveillance app, she was stunned by her daughter’s poise and natural charm. There was a lump in her throat, one she hadn’t expected.
In the classroom, when Freya finished, the room erupted into applause. Some children even cheered. Miss Cooper was genuinely impressed.
"Freya, that was beautiful," she said. "Did you learn music at home?"
Freya shook her head. "No. My mommy used to sing this song to me when we went to sleep. I remembered it from her."
Miss Cooper smiled warmly. "Is your mother a singer?"
"No," Freya replied with pride. "She’s a businesswoman."
"Well, you have a lovely voice. Thank you for sharing your song with us."
Freya beamed and sat in her seat.
"Next, number 19," Miss Cooper called.
Back in the car, Eleanor was so engrossed in the live feed that she hadn’t realized the vehicle had stopped moving. Ethan had quietly parked the car in the underground lot beneath the Heimdall Building.
His car was pre-registered in the company’s security database, so the guards didn’t stop it at the entrance. After parking, Ethan simply watched Eleanor, his gaze soft and full of admiration.
She was focused, completely absorbed in watching Freya’s performance. It was rare to see her ... unguarded, emotional, and deeply moved.
A few minutes later, Eleanor blinked and suddenly realized where they were.
"We’re here already?" she asked, looking around.
"Yes," Ethan said with a small smile. "You were a little... distracted."
She offered a faint smile, then stepped out of the car and headed to her private elevator. As she entered, Ethan’s car exited the building.
Exiting the elevator, Eleanor walked confidently to her office. Inside, she found Teresa and Lily seated at the conference table, waiting for her.
"Good morning," they both greeted in unison.
"Good morning," she replied. "Where’s Maya?"
"She was busy with the Indian project last night," Teresa said. "She’s probably still asleep."
"She called me last night and gave me an update," Teresa continued. "The Indian side has agreed to personal compensation, but before accepting our full proposal, they want more details about our investment plans in their companies. Maya said three out of the seven companies already have expansion strategies to become export-oriented, so those are basically confirmed. The remaining four are now working with our U.S. side to develop investment plans."
She paused and added, "Maya mentioned that the total cost might exceed our initial budget, but she’s confident she can close the deal within two days."
Eleanor nodded. "Good. And the cybersecurity division? I asked you to follow up yesterday."
Teresa replied, "They’ve already formed a team for the new initiative. Today, they’ll begin advertising the plan on their website. By next week, they’ll launch a subscription model specifically for state agencies."
"They better be ready for what’s coming," Eleanor said firmly. "Lily?"
Lily smiled as she opened her notes. "Things are going smoothly on my end. The Nigerian government has agreed to most of our terms after hearing that we plan to invest 100 million dollars and begin production within six months. Aisha has arrived and taken charge. Our legal team is finalizing contracts with the Nigerian government."
She added, "Aisha brought three members from her Space Project team and selected two from our legal department. The five of them will be traveling to Nigeria together. They’re receiving their visas and all necessary permissions today... at least, that’s what the Nigerian officials confirmed."
Eleanor nodded and pointed to the pile of folders on her desk.
"You were waiting for my signatures on these?"
Both assistants responded simultaneously, "Yes."
Eleanor sat down and opened the folders one by one. She read each document carefully, occasionally asking detailed questions, and signed off after reviewing everything.
A while later, both Teresa and Lily left the office, leaving Eleanor alone.
She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
"Hello, darling," Fiona’s voice came through warmly.
"My team is heading to Nigeria to establish a new factory," Eleanor began. "And I’m about to acquire seven companies in India. Can you suggest any security measures?"
Fiona paused for a moment before responding. "Nigeria doesn’t have any dominant werewolf clans. That land is traditionally occupied by Werehyenas. Several clans are spread across Africa, but the Bultungin Clan is the most powerful in Nigeria. If you gain their support, no other supernatural entity will bother you."
"I read that they live in Kabultiloa, near Lake Chad," Eleanor said. "And that they’re so violent, other supernatural groups avoid the region entirely."
Fiona chuckled softly. "You’re both right and wrong. They can be bloodthirsty, yes... but only if you antagonize them. Normally, they’re peaceful and work well with the local people. They dominate the area politically and supernaturally. I recommend meeting the clan head. He’s a good man. Ask Dominic Blanc to arrange a meeting... he has connections with them."
"Understood, Grandma. Thank you."
Fiona continued, "As for India, you should know the Harivamsa Clan serves as the Priest Clan on the Council. They mostly live in their pocket dimension but wield a strong influence in that region. You should meet the Matriarch... she’s a great leader and an old friend of mine. She’ll guide you. Let me know when you plan to visit, and I’ll arrange the meeting. And bring her a respectful gift."
"Got it. Thanks again," Eleanor said.
"And Freya?" Fiona asked. "She started school today, didn’t she?"
"Yes. I’ll pick her up at 3:30 PM. If you’re free, you should stop by. She’d love to see you."
"I’ll see what I can do," Fiona said fondly. "Take care, dear."