Lucy nodded, her eyes still dreamy from the afterglow of their intense encounters. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and submission at the same time – pride that she had pleased Mia so thoroughly.

"I love you…" Lucy muttered with a small smile.

"I love you too baby," Mia kissed Lucy's lips which were clearly wanting some more attention.

"I love you. I love you so much," Lucy hugged her girlfriend who lightly shivered with post-nut clarity at the sight of her girlfriend, somewhat covered in her fluids, now pressing it all over her body.

"Alright, let's get you cleaned up, baby."

…

The morning light crept softly into the room as Mia finished fastening the buttons of her blouse. Lucy, sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbed her eyes, still waking up. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and a soft yawn escaped her as she watched Mia gather her things.

"Can't you stay just a little longer?" Lucy asked, her voice still groggy.

Mia gave a slight smile, but there was a hint of apology in her eyes. "I wish I could. But you know how it is. Work's backed up, even with all the extra help I've brought on."

Lucy sighed, leaning back on her hands. "I get it, but… it feels like you're taking everything on yourself. You have all those people working for you, Mia. You don't have to carry the weight alone."

Mia adjusted her collar, looking at Lucy with a serious expression. "It's not that simple. Managing all these people, making sure no one's slacking—it feels like the only way I can ensure everything's done right." She paused, glancing down briefly before continuing. "I guess… I don't trust them the way you do with your team."

Lucy smiled a little, understanding. "I trust a lot of my people to take the lead. I still oversee things, but I let them carry some of the weight. You're allowed to trust people, Mia. It'll be easier."

Mia shook her head, a soft but resolute smile on her face. "That's the difference between us. I only trust you and Ada with all my being. That's all there is to it."

Lucy looked at her for a moment, a blend of admiration and worry in her gaze. She nodded slowly, realizing just how deep Mia's dedication ran.

Mia finished buttoning her cuffs, adjusted her collar, and leaned down, placing a soft peck on Lucy's lips. Lucy's hand lingered at her wrist, but she let Mia go, watching her as she crossed the room and slipped out the door.

As Mia walked through the hallway, the morning light cast warm patches on the floor, illuminating her graceful stride. She moved quietly, her expression calm but purposeful, until she reached a familiar door at the end of the hall. Ada's room. She knocked gently, and almost instantly, Ada appeared, fully dressed and with an eager smile.

"Mia!" Ada exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she rushed over, throwing her arms around Mia in a big, warm hug.

Mia hugged her back, but her expression softened as she gently pulled back. "I'm leaving, Ada," she said.

Ada's face fell. "Already? Can't you stay just a bit longer?"

Mia offered a sad smile, her hand resting on Ada's shoulder. "I wish I could. But there's too much work waiting for me. I'll be back soon, though—I promise."

Ada bit her lip, looking down for a moment before nodding reluctantly. "Alright… just don't take too long."

Mia gave her a final squeeze. "I won't." With that, she stepped away, heading for the exit, her determination never faltering despite the farewells lingering in the air.

Mia stepped out of the castle gates, her eyes narrowing in anticipation as she raised her hand, calling forth her phoenix. In an instant, the skies shifted, and with a burst of radiant flames, a massive phoenix emerged, its feathers flickering with hues of deep crimson and gold. The bird descended, hovering just above the ground, its presence casting an ethereal glow over the landscape. Without hesitation, Mia hopped onto its back, gripping two wispy appendages that extended from its head, firm yet warm to the touch.

The phoenix launched itself into the air with a powerful beat of its wings, piercing through the clouds and slicing the wind as they ascended. The rush of cold air whipped past Mia's face, but her focus remained steadfast.

As Mia and her phoenix soared through the air, the landscape of Norway unfolded beneath them—a dramatic expanse of rugged fjords, dense forests blanketed in snow, and towering peaks bathed in the dim, ethereal glow of early morning. The icy wind rushed past, but Mia remained focused, her eyes fixed on the distant silhouette of her fortress, a place as formidable and untamed as the lands surrounding it.

Gradually, the castle emerged from the haze of the blizzard, revealing its majestic form atop a towering, jagged mountain peak. It was a marvel of dark stone, looming and resilient against the fierce winds that battered its high walls. Layers of frost clung to the castle's battlements and arched towers, and its many spires reached skyward, tipped in glistening icicles that shimmered against the muted sky. The mountain itself seemed to cradle the fortress, jagged cliffs dropping away into deep valleys below, creating a sense of isolation that only intensified the castle's unyielding presence.

The blizzard swirled fiercely around the fortress, a near-constant shroud of snow and ice that served as a natural barrier. Each gust sent flurries skimming along the stonework, and the wind howled through the high towers with an eerie, relentless sound. Against this tempest, the dark stone of the castle stood in stark relief, its cold, gray walls weathered yet unyielding, defying both the elements and the vast wilderness beyond.

As the phoenix drew closer, Mia could make out the intricate carvings on the stone—detailed reliefs of mythical beasts and ancient symbols, remnants of a forgotten age that whispered of power and vigilance. Windows cut into the stone emitted a faint, warm glow, a stark contrast to the icy blue of the snow-covered mountains and the bleak gray of the sky. Gargoyles perched at each corner, their cold, frozen eyes seeming to watch over the valley below with eternal vigilance.

When they finally reached the castle, the phoenix circled once before landing on the highest spire, its talons clutching the stone ledge with a firm grip. Mia dismounted gracefully, stepping down into the courtyard below, where her attendants awaited. Among them, her most trusted attendant stepped forward—a man with slicked-back black hair, and sharp, calculating eyes framed by a thick monocle. He offered a respectful bow as he approached her side.

"Welcome back, Lady Mia," he greeted her with a tone of composed reverence.

Mia turned to him with a commanding gaze. "Thank you. Now, report—what's the current status of Tolf?"

The man adjusted his monocle, his expression unwavering as he prepared to brief her on every detail.

As Mia walked through the snowy courtyard of her Norwegian stronghold, her trusted attendant, the impeccably dressed man with the slicked-back hair and thick monocle, kept pace beside her, a clipboard ready. After greeting her warmly, he immediately began detailing the latest updates.

"The expansion has been significant, my lady, but challenges are arising as predicted." He scanned his notes, his expression grave. "The largest hurdle appears to be cultural misalignment. Teams in certain regions aren't adapting as quickly as we'd hoped, leading to misunderstandings and inefficiencies."

Mia nodded thoughtfully. "I expected as much. We'll need to introduce cultural liaison officers in those regions. It's non-negotiable—every department should feel aligned with Tolf's mission."

Her attendant made a quick note. "I'll set it up immediately. However, there's also regulatory compliance. We're facing issues in regions where data privacy laws differ drastically. Some of our methods are considered too intrusive under local standards."

"Then our compliance team needs strengthening," Mia replied. "I want specialists who understand every market. These fines and regulatory blockades are wastes of resources."

"Understood, my lady. I'll increase recruitment in those areas. But there's another issue that requires immediate attention: supply chain disruptions. We're having trouble maintaining consistent quality across borders, especially with the rapid pace of growth."

Mia paused, her gaze narrowing. "We can't have quality slipping—not if we aim to lead. Secure additional local suppliers in critical areas and keep backups. And on that note, ensure inventory management is centralized so we can adjust in real-time."

Her attendant nodded, checking items off his list. "Also, talent management is becoming a pressing concern. We're seeing some regions struggle with retention as the cultural transition has led to disconnects between departments. Many employees aren't yet fully integrated with Tolf's values."

Mia's lips tightened. "It's simple—we need stronger onboarding, with a focus on unifying our message. If anyone can't align with Tolf, replace them. We have more capable candidates than we need."

"Agreed, my lady," he said, scribbling hastily. "Now, as for cybersecurity, the expansion is leaving some gaps. We need uniform standards across every branch—no weak points."

Mia's expression grew steely. "Then make it a priority. Our encryption and data security protocols must be ironclad. Allocate funds if necessary, but these systems need to be impenetrable."

The attendant nodded. "Lastly, currency fluctuations and political instability are impacting profitability in certain regions. Do you suggest we implement hedging strategies?"

Mia gave a short nod. "Yes. Build in financial models for localized pricing too. We won't let our operations suffer because of an unstable economy."

He finished jotting the final note and looked up. "That covers the major issues. It's a lot, my lady, but with these adjustments, I believe we'll stay ahead."

"Good," Mia replied, her gaze turning toward the distant snowy mountains. "We're not here to simply expand—we're here to dominate. Make these changes swiftly. Our influence must be undeniable."

With a final nod, her attendant strode off, ready to execute her directives with unwavering loyalty.

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