Chapter 9: Unseen Moves
1251 Words
The conference room slowly emptied. Executives gathered their files and exchanged quiet whispers as they left. Some of them glanced at Bianca Shane with curiosity,others with caution, a few with clear skepticism. Bianca remained standing near the glass table, watching the last executive disappear through the door.
When the room was finally empty, Alexander Grant spoke.
“You surprised them.”
Bianca crossed her arms.
“I don’t think they’re convinced.”
Alexander walked toward the large windows overlooking London’s skyline.
“They don’t need to be convinced today.”
He turned slightly.
“They only need to remember you.”
Bianca frowned.
“That sounds like the beginning of a war.”
Alexander gave a faint smile.
“It is.”
Bianca leaned back against the table.
“You enjoy this, don’t you?”
Alexander didn’t deny it.
“The business world is a battlefield, Miss Shane. Those who pretend otherwise rarely survive.”
Bianca glanced down at the Project Phoenix file still resting on the table.
“Then I guess I should start preparing for battle.”
Alexander’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“You already have.”
Before Bianca could respond, the conference room door opened again and a young assistant hurried in, looking slightly nervous.
“Mr. Grant.”
Alexander turned.
“Yes?”
“There’s an urgent call for you.”
“From who?”
The assistant hesitated briefly.
“Dane Enterprises.”
Bianca froze. The name struck like a sudden gust of cold air. Alexander noticed her reaction immediately.
“Put it through to my office.”
The assistant nodded quickly and left.
Alexander looked back at Bianca.
“Interesting.”
Bianca’s voice was calm, but her fingers tightened slightly against the table.
“Carson wouldn’t call you.”
Alexander tilted his head slightly.
“You sound very certain.”
Bianca forced herself to remain composed.
“I know him.”
Alexander picked up the file.
“Then this call probably isn’t from him.”
He walked toward the door.
“Come,” he gestured for her to follow.
Alexander’s office was located at the very top of the building. Floor to ceiling windows surrounded the space, offering a breathtaking view of London but Bianca barely noticed it. Her attention was focused on the phone sitting on Alexander’s desk, the call was still active.
Alexander pressed the speaker button.
“Alexander Grant speaking.”
A woman’s voice responded immediately.
“Mr. Grant, good afternoon.”
Bianca recognized the voice instantly, that was Victoria Lang. Her expression hardened slightly.
Alexander leaned casually against his desk.
“Miss Lang.”
Victoria’s voice carried a smooth, polite tone.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“That depends on why you’re calling.”
A brief pause followed, then Victoria spoke again.
“I’m calling about a potential partnership.”
Bianca’s eyes narrowed slightly and Alexander glanced at her briefly before responding.
“What kind of partnership?”
“Dane Enterprises is planning a major international expansion.”
Bianca felt a flicker of surprise because that wasn’t something Carson had mentioned before.
Victoria continued, “And we believe Grant International Capital could be a valuable financial partner.”
Alexander tapped his fingers lightly on the desk.
“That’s a very sudden proposal.”
Victoria’s voice remained calm.
“The best opportunities are often sudden.”
Bianca studied the phone silently. Something about Victoria’s tone felt deliberate.
Alexander spoke again.
“And why are you handling this personally?”
There was a small pause, then Victoria answered.
“Because I believe strong alliances are built through personal communication.”
Alexander’s lips curved slightly.
“Very diplomatic.”
Victoria laughed softly.
“Can we schedule a meeting?”
Alexander glanced at Bianca again, his eyes held a thoughtful glint.
“When were you thinking?”
“Tomorrow.”
Bianca’s heart skipped slightly, tomorrow?
Victoria continued.
“I’ll be in London for a charity event.”
Alexander didn’t hesitate.
“Very well.”
“Excellent.”
Victoria’s voice carried a subtle note of satisfaction.
“I look forward to meeting you.” And with that, the line went silent. Alexander ended the call and the office fell quiet.
Bianca spoke first.
“That wasn’t a coincidence.”
Alexander nodded slowly.
“No.”
Bianca stepped closer to the desk.
“Victoria doesn’t make moves without a reason.”
Alexander folded his arms.
“And what reason do you think she has?”
Bianca thought for a moment, then her eyes widened slightly.
“She’s testing you.”
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
“Explain.”
Bianca walked toward the window.
“Victoria is extremely strategic.”
She looked back at him.
“If Dane Enterprises is planning an international expansion, she’ll want powerful financial allies.”
Alexander nodded slightly.
“That’s obvious.”
“But calling you directly?” Bianca continued.
“That’s unusual.”
Alexander’s eyes sharpened slightly.
“Unless”
Bianca finished the thought.
“Unless she’s also investigating you.”
The room grew quiet again. Alexander considered the idea.
“Interesting theory.”
Bianca frowned slightly.
“You don’t sound concerned.”
Alexander smiled faintly.
“Because I’m not.”
Bianca crossed her arms.
“You think you can outplay her?”
Alexander walked toward the window beside her.
“I know I can.”
Bianca studied his calm expression.
“You sound very confident.”
Alexander’s gaze shifted toward the city skyline.
“Victoria Lang may be clever”
His voice lowered slightly.
“But she has no idea who she’s dealing with.”
Bianca felt a strange chill run through her as Alexander turned toward her again.
“And neither does Carson.”
The mention of his name stirred something uncomfortable inside her chest. Bianca quickly pushed the feeling away.
“That part of my life is over.”
Alexander watched her carefully.
“Is it?”
Bianca held his gaze.
“Yes.”
Alexander didn’t argue but the faint smile on his face suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Carson Dane sat in a quiet conference room inside Dane Enterprises. Several executives sat around the table reviewing documents but Carson’s attention wasn’t on the meeting, his thoughts kept drifting back to Bianca’s notebook. The brilliant ideas, the strategies, the realization that she had contributed far more to the company than he ever acknowledged.
Daniel suddenly nudged his arm.
“Carson.”
Carson blinked.
“What?”
“You’ve been zoning out for the last ten minutes.”
Carson rubbed his temples slightly.
“Sorry.”
One of the executives spoke up.
“Mr. Dane, should we continue discussing the international expansion plan?”
Carson nodded absently.
“Yes.”
But something about the words caught his attention.
“Wait.”
The room fell silent and Carson looked up with a somewhat confused expression.
“Who suggested this expansion plan?”
The executives exchanged glances but didn’t say anything. Finally, one of them answered.
“It was Miss Lang.”
Carson’s expression shifted slightly.
Victoria.
He leaned back in his chair.
“And she’s already started contacting investors?”
Daniel frowned.
“How did you know that?”
Carson’s instincts stirred uneasily.
“Just a guess.”
But deep down, something felt off, very off, because Carson knew Victoria well enough to recognize one thing. When she moved this quickly, it usually meant she was planning something much bigger, something no one else could see yet and somewhere in London that plan had already begun.
- Writer
