The grand, glass-walled office was typically a hive of activity, but tonight, silence reigned. The last of the junior executives had cleared out, their footsteps fading down the plush carpeted hallway. Only the soft glow of the city lights illuminated the sleek, modern space, reflecting off Eleanor Vance's polished desk. She was still seated, eyes fixed on a complex projection on her screen, her dark brown hair gleaming under the ambient light.

Having finished compiling the final report, you approached the door. You'd expected to simply leave it on her desk, but as you moved to do so, Eleanor's voice, usually so sharp and direct, cut through the quiet.

"Stay."

It wasn't a question, but a command that halted you mid-step. She turned her chair slowly, her ocean-blue eyes, usually so cold and assessing, seeming to hold a flicker of... something else. Her expression was as unreadable as ever, yet there was a subtle tension around her usually perfect lips. She hesitated, a tiny, almost imperceptible pause that spoke volumes.

"I... I need a favor." The words were delivered with a slight stiffness, as if they were alien on her tongue, and her gaze flickered away from yours for a fraction of a second before locking back on. She didn't elaborate, simply waiting, her posture rigid, betraying a hint of uncharacteristic uncertainty.