His Contracted Wife

Chapter 3: The Meeting That Set Everything in Motion

*Third Person POV*

The time for the meeting finally arrived.

Everyone was already inside the conference room, seated properly around the long glass table, waiting for the arrival of the CEO.

The atmosphere was tense but orderly—papers neatly arranged, tablets ready, and eyes constantly darting toward the door.

According to Anne, someone had called earlier, which caused the meeting to be delayed by several minutes.

When Anthony Sinclair finally entered the room, the change in the air was immediate.

Gianna noticed it at once.

The shoulders of everyone inside the room visibly stiffened, especially when Anthony walked in with a dark, heavy aura surrounding him. Even on normal days, his presence alone carried an intimidating weight—but today was different.

Much darker.

Much heavier.

If Gianna had to guess, she would say it had something to do with the call Anne mentioned earlier. Whatever that conversation was, it clearly affected him.

Anthony strode toward his seat at the far end of the table, directly facing the large screen mounted on the wall.

He slammed the documents he was holding onto the table with a sharp sound that echoed throughout the room.

“Start.”

Just one word.

Yet it landed like thunder, sending a silent jolt of fear through everyone present. The tension was obvious, but no one dared show it openly. Everyone chose professionalism over panic.

As the meeting began, Gianna moved efficiently around the table, handing out the brochures she had worked tirelessly on the night before. Each board member and investor received a copy.

Once she finished, she quietly returned to her place behind Anthony, sitting beside Anne. As the secretary, Anne was responsible for taking official notes—and Gianna, as the personal assistant, had to do the same.

As the presentation started, Gianna made sure her focus was sharp. No distractions. No wandering thoughts. Every detail mattered.

“Sky Royale Condominiums is our newest luxury project,” the Project Manager began. “It is located in one of the city’s most visited tourist areas. The building will feature a private sky lounge, an infinity pool, and a 24/7 concierge service.”

Despite his polished tone, the fear was evident in the Project Manager’s eyes—especially whenever his gaze unintentionally drifted toward Anthony.

“The materials used for this project are of the highest quality,” he continued. “Each one was carefully selected to ensure the best possible outcome for this development.”

He paused briefly, as if gauging the reactions of everyone in the room.

Moments later, one of the investors spoke, drawing everyone’s attention. “What is the expected return on investment if we purchase a unit before construction is completed?”

The Project Manager responded promptly.

“During the pre-selling phase, we expect to sell at least sixty percent of the units. You can be assured that your investment will be secure and that the profit margin will be highly favorable once the building is completed.”

The investor nodded, clearly satisfied.

The meeting continued smoothly. Gianna’s fingers moved swiftly across her iPad as she typed down important details, schedules, and figures related to the project.

While she was focused on her notes, Anthony’s voice suddenly reached her ears—low, firm, and directed at her without even turning his head.

“Ms. Castillo, prepare the virtual tour link and the pricing details. Send them to Mr. Cruz.”

Gianna nodded immediately. “Yes, sir.”

She glanced briefly at Mr. Cruz’s seat and noticed the keen interest in his expression—particularly when the penthouse unit was mentioned.

After several hours, the meeting concluded without any major issues. Judging by the reactions of the board members and investors, the project had been well received.

Most of them were eager to invest, confident that the returns would be significant. That alone ensured the project would proceed smoothly, with enough financial backing to support the construction of the new luxury condominium.

Gianna and Anne followed Anthony as he headed back to their floor, where his office—and their workstations—were located.

Upon arriving, they waited as Anthony opened his office door. He stepped inside, then suddenly stopped and turned back to face them.

“Ms. Cortis,” he said to Anne, “prepare the virtual tour link and pricing details. Send them to Mr. Cruz as soon as possible.”

Anne nodded immediately. “Yes, sir.”

Gianna couldn’t help but frown slightly.

That task had originally been assigned to her.

“And you,” Anthony added, his gaze now on Gianna.

She straightened instantly.

“You’ll come with me later. I have a meeting.”

With that, he walked inside his office and shut the door without another word.

Gianna and Anne returned to their desks. Since Anne’s table was closer, she sat down immediately while Gianna leaned toward her.

“Who was Sir talking to earlier?” Gianna asked quietly, wasting no time.

Anne laughed softly. “Straight to the point, huh? Not even asking why he was late or why he looked like he was about to kill someone?”

“That’s basically the same thing,” Gianna replied. “So?”

“Well,” Anne said, lowering her voice, “it was his mother.”

Gianna nodded and didn’t ask anything else. That alone explained the dark aura Anthony carried earlier.

She knew, from Anne’s previous stories, that Anthony didn’t have a good relationship with his mother. Mrs. Sinclair was known for constantly interfering in his life. According to Anne, Anthony had even caught his mother cheating on his father—which only widened the distance between them.

His father had filed for divorce, but Mrs. Sinclair refused to sign the papers.

In short, the Sinclair family situation was complicated.

***

By afternoon, Gianna found herself riding silently in Anthony’s car. The ride was quiet, tense even, until they arrived at a large, luxurious restaurant.

From the moment they stepped inside, it was clear—the place was meant only for the wealthy.

The space was vast and grand. From the polished floors to the elegant tables and chairs, everything screamed luxury. The materials alone looked incredibly expensive.

Anthony walked ahead, his hands tucked inside his pockets. Gianna followed closely behind.

And because she was behind him, she couldn’t help but notice his broad back and confident stride.

Truthfully, Anthony Sinclair was undeniably handsome. Perfect, even—attractive, powerful, and wealthy. Everything a woman could possibly want.

She couldn’t deny that.

They soon reached a table—and that was when Gianna saw her.

Mrs. Sinclair.

Gianna had met her once before at the company, during one of her dramatic visits. That encounter alone had confirmed everything Anne had said about the strained relationship between mother and son.

There were no greetings.

Anthony sat down immediately, while Gianna remained standing beside him.

Mrs. Sinclair raised an eyebrow as her gaze landed on Gianna. “And who is this?” she asked, her tone dripping with disdain.

Anthony said nothing.

So Gianna answered instead. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Sinclair. I’m Gianna Castillo, Sir’s personal assistant,” she said politely, offering an awkward smile.

Mrs. Sinclair scoffed. “And why did you bring your PA, Anthony? What we’re about to discuss is confidential.”

“You told me this was work-related,” Anthony replied coldly. “Since she’s my personal assistant, it’s only right that she’s here to take notes.”

There was no trace of respect in his voice.

“Fine,” Mrs. Sinclair snapped, irritation flashing across her face before she forced a sweet smile. “Before we begin—how are you, my son? I missed you—”

She didn’t get to finish.

Anthony turned toward Gianna. “Why are you still standing there? Sit down.”

Gianna swallowed hard as Mrs. Sinclair shot her a sharp glare. She pulled out a chair and sat quietly.

“As I was saying,” Mrs. Sinclair tried again, “how are you, son? I missed you so much—”

“Drop the act,” Anthony interrupted sharply. “What do you want? Why did you call me here?”

Mrs. Sinclair looked offended, but in the end, she had no choice but to reveal her true intentions.

“Samantha is back,” she said calmly. “And her family is willing to invest a large sum—if you agree to marry her.”

The words hung heavily in the air.

And without realizing it, Gianna felt her chest tighten—unaware that this single sentence would soon change everything in her life.