Vows & Vendetta

CHAPTER 5 - ZENITH’S POV

I wouldn't define what I was doing at the moment as living. I was pacing towards inevitable doom with coffee in one hand and the weight of an empire on the other.

A week had already passed since the board meeting and I could feel the time bomb ticking louder.

We were one investor pull out from collapse, and I was one board member vote away from being stripped of everything I built. I was running out of ideas and hope was a myth I couldn't afford to believe in.

The elevator chimed open. I took a long sip of caffeine and stepped out, sleep-deprived and one bad interaction away from committing light treason. Then I turned the corner and ran right into someone.

"Can you at least watch where you're going," I muttered, steadying the lid of my coffee before it spilled all over my blouse.

"I'm sure you have bigger things to worry about," came the too-smooth voice of Richard Calloway. “Your time is almost up, Lancaster. I'm sure we can both agree the company deserves better." His lips curved into a smile that made me want to throw my cup straight at his perfectly shaved jaw.

"If by better, you mean yourself, then you can schedule a doctor's appointment.” I straightened my shoulders and pinned a glare on him. “Delusion can be treated."

God, how satisfying would it be to knock some sense into that polished skull of his. But no, curse professionalism.

"I'm not trying to steal your company," he started, reaching to touch my hand but stopped mid gesture. "I'm highly involved in this company, and I don't want to run on losses. Surely, you understand that?"

"Then do us both a favor and step out of my way. I've got things to do."

He leaned in slightly, enough for me to smell his overpriced cologne and obvious hatred for competent women. "Clean up my new office while you're at it.”

When I started this company, all I had was my inheritance, and it wasn't enough, which is how I got entangled with Calloway. A necessary evil. He earned his seat on the board through the private equity firm and while I hated his guts, I needed the support. Except now, said evil was circling me like a vulture.

I stormed to my office, tossed the coffee into the bin with all the grace of a person two seconds away from a breakdown, and came face-to-face with a familiar, unimpressed stare.

"That," I announced, "is what I wish I could do to Calloway."

Valeria snorted. "Good thing I brought back-up." She said, already holding up a second cup of coffee.

Valeria looked like a model with long legs that made everything she wore look effortlessly beautiful. Especially her oversized blazers which had become her signature look over the years, tailored just right to emphasize her already commanding silhouette.

Her jet-black hair was cut in a precise bob, and she carried herself with the perfect amount of poise and chaos. Also, she was the only reason I wasn't in jail yet.

"What did he say to you?" she asked, handing me the cup and proceeding to tapping away at her tablet.

"Basically, gloated about being the new CEO soon."

Valeria gave me a once-over. "Do you want me to trip him in the parking lot? Or you want to handle this professionally?"

"I'm leaning towards tripping, but we have bigger fish to fry." I responded with a chuckle.

"Have you considered maybe… striking a deal with Blackthorn?"

"Nope. Never have. Never will."

Ace Blackthorn had been, considerably, a foe for two years now; ever since I snuffed out a deal right from under his nose. To be fair, it was a case of kill or be killed, and I wasn't about to sit back and watch him win just because his grandfather was highly influential.

I'1l admit, his plans were smart. But he was too careful, and that hesitation gave me the window I needed. I worked faster, and smarter. And walked away with the deal of the year and he’d been a sore loser ever since.

"So, what do you have in mind?" Valeria asked, watching me with piqued interest as I stood, grabbed a marker, pulled out a little board and sketched a sorry replica of a plan.

"Last night I watched War Dogs," I began.

"That's never the start of a good sentence."

I ignored her quip. “…And I realized, if two idiots can bluff their way into a Pentagon deal with zero inventory, then I can fake a serious investor negotiation for 72 hours or more."

Valeria lowered her tablet. "You're going to lie to the board?"

"I'm going to stall the board. There's a difference.”

"Right."

"I just need to feed them enough to keep them leashed, just long enough till I find someone real."

She looked at the board again. "And this is supposed to be the visual representation of your genius plan?"

"Well?" I ignored her obvious mockery.

"I have questions. Many."

"Fire away."

…………..

Thirty minutes later, we were walking to the boardroom with a plan built on lies, caffeine and enough spreadsheets to make it look convincing.

I stepped into the room, calm and collected, despite the growing pit in my stomach, and Valeria followed behind, already syncing the presentation to the screen at the head of the room.

I smoothed the corset overlay of my blouse, nodded at the table of anxious, slightly judgmental board members and took in a deep breath.

Show time.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for coming at such short notice. I, however, called this meeting to give you good news." I paused, mostly for dramatic effect, but also to observe the room and all eyes were trained on me.

"For a couple of days, my COO and I have been in active talks with a potential investor. Not just any investor- this one understands infrastructure and forward-thinking development. They're interested in our smart city initiatives, port automation systems and capacity for rebound."

Valeria clicked to the next slide behind me: Investor Engagement- Phase 1.

"They've reviewed our growth forecasts and have requested exclusive access to internal data. Their interest isn't speculative, it's strategic."

"Who exactly are we talking about?" one of the board members asked.

"I can't say. Not yet. NDAs are in place," I said smoothly. "But I'll be flying to Geneva for a one-on-one with their executive delegation."

'They've asked for projections from our drone freight network," Valeria chimed in, just like we'd practiced. "They're looking at long-term capital infusion, possibly staggered over three years."

I nodded, "If all goes well, we're looking at a deal that could stabilize our operations, buy back leverage, and restore confidence across our stakeholder ecosystem."

Some of the board members exchanged glances, then some approving nods. Hope filled my entire body, right until Calloway felt a need to chip in.

'That's a compelling pitch," he drawled, reclining in his chair, "but forgive me Zenith for asking. You say you've been in active talks and yet, no face-to-face? Quite suspicious, don't you think?”

“And what do you mean by that?"

"You want us to bank our future on a meeting that hasn't even happened?"

"You know how these things work," I said tightly. "Cautiously, until they don't. Tomorrow is the final step."

"Right. And I'm sure this mysterious investor just loves doing billion dollar deals in the dark."

"They're protecting their position. They don’t want noise, just results. And frankly, that's exactly what we need right now."

"Or maybe you're stalling. Again."

The air grew tense, and I could feel the sweat running down my spine despite the air conditioning in the room.

I walked toward him, slowly. "Richard, you may hold shares and run numbers," my voice was calm and low but sharp enough to make sure he got the message that was coming, "but I hold this company. So, I suggest you shut up and let me do my job, before I ask your firm to reconsider their representation."

His jaw clenched but he didn't say a word. It was satisfying to make him understand that even though his position was important, he wasn't untouchable.

"Timeline?" a voice echoed from my side.

"Seven to ten business days. We'll reconvene next Friday with a formal update."

The chairman nodded. "We trust you'll have something concrete."

"Definitely," I replied, then clapped my hands as a little sign of victory. "If that's all, we're done here. See you Friday."

Valeria and I walked out without another word. Once the doors shut, she leaned in and whispered.

"Calloway's going to dig. Hard."

Hopefully I would've miraculously found an investor before my extra ten days were up.