scriptionofherdeskalone,whichwasmadeofexpertlysculpturedivoryusingupoverathousandtusks，would,besuffittodehecaliberofthefurnishings．Ileensatatherdesklisteningtothereportsofherstaff,reading,signingorwritingherentsoackofpaperspcedforherreview．Everynowandthen,shelookedatthetwelvergessthatsurroundedher,onwhichfshedstatisticsoftheevergingworldMarketoffinance．Shedideverythingbrisklyandeffitly,asiftherewasaninnatecalcutorinherbrainthatcouldinstantlypointouterrorsinwhatsheheardorread．Shehadents,ges,orordersforalmosteverythingthatcameunderherreview,withtheonlyexceptiosfromWorldBank,whichsheacceptedunditionally.Innotime，shehaddisposedht’swork．Shesatbafortably,tookoutherpathedrawerandcarefullyscrutinizedherimageinthemirrorbefivingherselfalittletouchup．Sheskillfullypenciledhereyebrowsandeyelids,makingheralreadybeautifundalluringeyesseemrgerandmoreluminousthahensheappliedmascaratohershes，addedcolortoherlipsandtouchedupherimmacutehair．Butallthewhilehereyeskeptdartingtothesfromtimetotimeandherbrainwasalwaysinawhirl,pnningandschemingonhowtomakemoremoney．

    Howcouldaiallyhealthyworldeysuddeeriorateintoarecession?Itonlyneededaboostandshehaditwithinherpiveitthatlittlepush．Ohyes,thisrecessionwasagreatceforhertodispyherformidabletalentsandmakeorbreakprincesoffinance，shethought，especiallysinceshehadDimitri’sunlimitedresourcesatherdisposal．Satisfiedwithherimageinthemirror，sheputbackheretitothedrawer，butthen,lookingattheluxuriousbutlonelyroom,shesighedandwonderedwhysheevenbothered．Noonewouldseeherinthisgod-forsakenpceorevencareabouthowshelooked．Sheputonmakeuponlytowashitoffafewhourster．Itwasalonelylifedespitetheimmensefinancialpoweriedinherandshelongedflitteringfmboyant，old-fashionedlifestyleshehadledwithMr．Kaffee,hobnobbingwiththeridfamous，beingplimentedforherbeautyandability．Butnow，heryouthaywerehiddeninthesemountainsayearsofherlifewerewasted．Shewasjustsittingtherewaitingforoldagetoe．

    "No!Iwohathappen!"shethoughtvehemently,hittingthedeskwithherfist．"Iwillbemistressofmyownfate.”ButthehoughtofhowDimitri’seyesighthadbeeerioratingfastthesestfewyearsandrumorinthepacehaditthathewouldbeblindoneday．Herinsatiablelustforpowerbadeherbepatientandwait,forwhenDimitriwentblind,hewouldbeehermercy,leavingherinsoleandactualtroloftheKingdom．Theimmehwouldbehisinnameonly．Butthehoughtofthedsavoirfaireofthemanthatwashermaster．Hemaylooksimpleandignorant,buthewasameanoppo,asshewellknew,andnotoobetakenlightly．Shesighedandwishedhewouldgowanderingallroundtheworldandneverebadbotherher．Siossible，shecouldonlyworkharderandmakeherselfindispensabletohim,tosecurehisfiderust．

    JustthensherememberedMr．Kaffee’srequest,askiouseDimitri’sfundstobuyasmuchgoldaspossible,sothatthepriceofgoldwouldgoup．HehadrashlyiedalltheliquidassetsofWorldBankingold,thinkingithadhitro．ItonlytinuedgoingdownandMr．Kaffeewasbeginningtofeelthepinch;sohecametohisformersecretaryforhelp．Ileen’sbrowsknittedintration，thinkingofawayoutforherformerbosswithoutincurringthedispleasureofherpresentmaster．Shehituporategyofbuildin

scriptionofherdeskalone,whichwasmadeofexpertlysculpturedivoryusingupoverathousandtusks，would,besuffittodehecaliberofthefurnishings．Ileensatatherdesklisteningtothereportsofherstaff,reading,signingorwritingherentsoackofpaperspcedforherreview．Everynowandthen,shelookedatthetwelvergessthatsurroundedher,onwhichfshedstatisticsoftheevergingworldMarketoffinance．Shedideverythingbrisklyandeffitly,asiftherewasaninnatecalcutorinherbrainthatcouldinstantlypointouterrorsinwhatsheheardorread．Shehadents,ges,orordersforalmosteverythingthatcameunderherreview,withtheonlyexceptiosfromWorldBank,whichsheacceptedunditionally.Innotime，shehaddisposedht’swork．Shesatbafortably,tookoutherpathedrawerandcarefullyscrutinizedherimageinthemirrorbefivingherselfalittletouchup．Sheskillfullypenciledhereyebrowsandeyelids,makingheralreadybeautifundalluringeyesseemrgerandmoreluminousthahensheappliedmascaratohershes，addedcolortoherlipsandtouchedupherimmacutehair．Butallthewhilehereyeskeptdartingtothesfromtimetotimeandherbrainwasalwaysinawhirl,pnningandschemingonhowtomakemoremoney．

    Howcouldaiallyhealthyworldeysuddeeriorateintoarecession?Itonlyneededaboostandshehaditwithinherpiveitthatlittlepush．Ohyes,thisrecessionwasagreatceforhertodispyherformidabletalentsandmakeorbreakprincesoffinance，shethought，especiallysinceshehadDimitri’sunlimitedresourcesatherdisposal．Satisfiedwithherimageinthemirror，sheputbackheretitothedrawer，butthen,lookingattheluxuriousbutlonelyroom,shesighedandwonderedwhysheevenbothered．Noonewouldseeherinthisgod-forsakenpceorevencareabouthowshelooked．Sheputonmakeuponlytowashitoffafewhourster．Itwasalonelylifedespitetheimmensefinancialpoweriedinherandshelongedflitteringfmboyant，old-fashionedlifestyleshehadledwithMr．Kaffee,hobnobbingwiththeridfamous，beingplimentedforherbeautyandability．Butnow，heryouthaywerehiddeninthesemountainsayearsofherlifewerewasted．Shewasjustsittingtherewaitingforoldagetoe．

    "No!Iwohathappen!"shethoughtvehemently,hittingthedeskwithherfist．"Iwillbemistressofmyownfate.”ButthehoughtofhowDimitri’seyesighthadbeeerioratingfastthesestfewyearsandrumorinthepacehaditthathewouldbeblindoneday．Herinsatiablelustforpowerbadeherbepatientandwait,forwhenDimitriwentblind,hewouldbeehermercy,leavingherinsoleandactualtroloftheKingdom．Theimmehwouldbehisinnameonly．Butthehoughtofthedsavoirfaireofthemanthatwashermaster．Hemaylooksimpleandignorant,buthewasameanoppo,asshewellknew,andnotoobetakenlightly．Shesighedandwishedhewouldgowanderingallroundtheworldandneverebadbotherher．Siossible，shecouldonlyworkharderandmakeherselfindispensabletohim,tosecurehisfiderust．

    JustthensherememberedMr．Kaffee’srequest,askiouseDimitri’sfundstobuyasmuchgoldaspossible,sothatthepriceofgoldwouldgoup．HehadrashlyiedalltheliquidassetsofWorldBankingold,thinkingithadhitro．ItonlytinuedgoingdownandMr．Kaffeewasbeginningtofeelthepinch;sohecametohisformersecretaryforhelp．Ileen’sbrowsknittedintration，thinkingofawayoutforherformerbosswithoutincurringthedispleasureofherpresentmaster．Shehituporategyofbuildin