Chapter 10
1613 Words
By eight the next morning, Elena knew the news had spread.
She felt it the moment she stepped into Black Empire Holdings.
Conversations stopped when she walked past.
Employees who had greeted her warmly two days earlier suddenly found reasons to look away.
Two executives whispered near the elevators.
A group of assistants fell silent when Elena entered the lobby.
She didn't need to ask what they were talking about.
Her mistake at Madison Heights was no longer private.
Everyone knew.
Grace met her near the elevator.
“You're trending again.”
Elena sighed.
“That's becoming a terrible habit.”
“This time it's worse.”
“How bad?”
Grace lowered her voice.
“People are saying the board is already reconsidering your succession.”
Elena stepped into the elevator.
“Let them talk.”
“You're not worried?”
“I am.”
Grace looked surprised.
Elena smiled faintly.
“I'm just not going to let them see it.”
The elevator doors opened on the executive floor.
Elena stepped out.
And immediately saw the boardroom doors open.
Everyone was inside.
Alexander.
Rebecca.
Victor.
Damien.
Daniel.
Several senior executives.
Elena stopped.
“That's early.”
Grace nodded.
“Very.”
Alexander looked toward her.
“Elena. Come in.”
She walked inside.
The doors closed behind her.
Victor was the first to speak.
“The investor's committee is demanding clarification regarding your commitment.”
Elena took her seat.
“I'll speak to them.”
“You've already spoken to them.”
“Yes.”
“And that's the problem.”
Rebecca placed a document on the table.
“Your statement created a contractual concern.”
Elena looked at the document.
“I understand.”
“You promised personal oversight.”
“I did.”
“You had no authorization.”
“I know.”
Victor leaned back.
“This isn't a small mistake.”
Elena looked at him.
“I never said it was.”
“You could have jeopardized an eight-hundred-million-dollar investment.”
“I know.”
Victor seemed almost pleased by her admission.
“So what are you going to do?”
Elena looked around the table.
“Fix it.”
Daniel gave a quiet laugh.
“That's easier said than done.”
Elena turned toward him.
“Then I'll say it again.”
She leaned forward.
“I'll fix it.”
Alexander had remained silent.
Now he spoke.
“Then tell us how.”
Elena opened her folder.
“I want to renegotiate the investor's conditions.”
Rebecca frowned.
“They're already reconsidering the investment.”
“Then I'll give them a reason not to.”
Victor shook his head.
“And what exactly are you offering?”
“A revised management structure.”
The room became quiet.
Elena continued.
“I'll establish an independent oversight committee for Madison Heights.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“That would delay the project.”
“Not if the committee operates alongside the current management.”
Rebecca looked thoughtful.
“And what would you gain?”
“Investor confidence.”
Victor crossed his arms.
“And what would you lose?”
Elena met his eyes.
“Control.”
The room fell silent.
Alexander watched her closely.
Elena continued.
“If I want the investor to trust the project, I can't ask them to trust me simply because I'm a Sinclair.”
She looked at Rebecca.
“I'll give them transparency.”
Then she looked at Victor.
“And accountability.”
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Alexander nodded.
“Proceed.”
Victor immediately objected.
“You're approving this?”
“I am.”
“She's already made one mistake.”
Alexander looked at him.
“And now she's proposing a solution.”
Victor fell silent.
Elena closed her folder.
“I'll contact Richard Lawson.”
Alexander stopped her.
“No.”
She looked up.
“I'll make the call.”
“Not alone.”
He glanced toward the door.
“Adrian Vale is joining you.”
Elena frowned.
“Why?”
“Because his company is still competing for the investment.”
Victor looked stunned.
“You're allowing a competitor into a confidential negotiation?”
Alexander's expression remained calm.
“Adrian has been involved in the discussions from the beginning.”
“That doesn't mean—”
“I've made my decision.”
The meeting ended shortly afterward.
Elena left the boardroom with Grace.
As they walked down the corridor, Grace whispered,
“Adrian again.”
Elena sighed.
“I know.”
“Do you trust him?”
Elena thought about it.
“No.”
Grace looked at her.
“Then why does it feel like you're smiling?”
Elena immediately stopped smiling.
“I wasn't.”
Grace laughed.
---
The conference room was ready by noon.
Richard Lawson joined through video conference.
Adrian arrived five minutes later.
He walked into the room carrying a slim black folder.
Elena looked at him.
“You're late.”
“I'm three minutes early.”
She frowned.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Adrian sat across from her.
“Maybe you're impatient.”
“Maybe.”
Richard appeared on the screen.
“Good afternoon.”
Elena nodded.
“Mr. Lawson.”
Adrian opened his folder.
“We've reviewed your concerns.”
Richard looked at Elena.
“I'm still concerned about the leadership issue.”
“I understand.”
Elena took a breath.
“That's why I'm proposing an independent oversight committee.”
Richard listened as she explained the structure.
No major financial decision would be made without review.
Quarterly reports would be shared with investors.
The project would be independently audited.
And Elena would remain directly responsible for the project's strategic direction.
When she finished, Richard was silent.
Then he looked at Adrian.
“And what does Vale International think?”
Adrian looked at Elena.
“She has my support.”
Elena's eyebrows lifted.
Richard noticed.
“So you're withdrawing your competing proposal?”
“No.”
Adrian's answer was immediate.
“I still intend to compete.”
Elena stared at him.
Richard almost smiled.
“At least you're honest.”
Adrian nodded.
“I have no reason to pretend otherwise.”
Richard considered the proposal.
“Give me twenty-four hours.”
The call ended.
Elena leaned back.
“One day.”
Adrian nodded.
“That's better than losing the investment today.”
She looked at him.
“You supported my proposal.”
“I supported a good proposal.”
“Even though it helps my company?”
“Especially because it helps your company.”
Elena frowned.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It does.”
Adrian closed his folder.
“If you lose the investment, the project becomes vulnerable.”
“And?”
“Then someone else buys it.”
Elena understood.
“You.”
He nodded.
“So you don't want me to fail yet.”
His gaze held hers.
“No.”
“Why?”
Adrian paused.
“Because I haven't finished figuring you out.”
The words left Elena strangely unsettled.
Before she could respond, her phone vibrated.
A message.
She looked down.
Her expression changed.
You're becoming difficult to control.
A second message appeared.
Be careful, Heiress. Everyone is watching.
Elena slowly raised her eyes.
Adrian noticed.
“What happened?”
She hesitated.
Then turned the phone toward him.
He read the message.
His expression immediately hardened.
“Who sent it?”
“I don't know.”
“Show me the others.”
She handed him the phone.
Adrian read through the previous messages.
When he looked back at her, the usual calmness in his eyes was gone.
“You should have told me.”
Elena frowned.
“Why?”
“Because this isn't about your probation anymore.”
“What is it about?”
Adrian looked toward the glass walls of the conference room.
Employees moved through the corridor outside.
Executives walked between offices.
Security guards stood near the elevators.
Everyone appeared to be doing their jobs.
But suddenly, Elena saw them differently.
Anyone could be watching.
Anyone could be listening.
Adrian lowered his voice.
“Someone inside this company knows everything you're doing.”
Elena's heart pounded.
“I know.”
“No.”
He looked directly at her.
“You don't.”
He placed her phone on the table.
“They knew about your meeting with Lawson before the board did.”
Elena went still.
Adrian continued.
“They knew about your mistake.”
He paused.
“And now they're threatening you.”
Elena stared at him.
“How did you figure that out?”
“Because whoever sent those messages isn't trying to scare you.”
“What are they trying to do?”
Adrian's gaze hardened.
“Control you.”
Silence filled the room.
Outside, the employees continued moving through the corridor.
Nobody appeared suspicious.
Nobody looked dangerous.
But Elena suddenly felt as though every pair of eyes was on her.
Everyone was watching.
Her family.
The board.
The executives.
The competitors.
And somewhere among them was someone who wanted her to fail.
Adrian stood.
“From now on, don't make any major move without telling me.”
Elena looked at him.
“You're giving me orders now?”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“I'm trying to keep you alive long enough to become the heiress your grandfather believes you can be.”
Elena's breath caught.
Before she could answer, Adrian walked out.
She remained seated.
For the first time since the probation began, Elena wasn't thinking about the twelve months ahead.
She was thinking about the person watching her right now.
And wondering how close they already were.
End of Chapter 10
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD