Chapter Four
1164 Words
Stephanie’s POV
By the time Stephanie got into her car, she had already made her decision.
If her father and the board wanted to play politics, then she would remind them she knew the rules better than they did.
“Cancel my 11 a.m.,” she said, scrolling through her tablet.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And move the investor call to tomorrow morning.
“Done.”
Stephanie paused briefly.
Then
“And get me a gift basket.”
Mark glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
“What kind?”
Stephanie didn’t look up.
"...New mother-appropriate.”
The house was quieter than she expected.
Not silent.
Just… softened.
Like everything inside had adjusted itself around something small and important.
Stephanie stepped in, her heels clicking lightly against the floor before the sound seemed to disappear into the calm of the space.
A house staff member greeted them and led them in.
She noticed it immediately.
The difference.
No harsh lighting. No cold decor. No performance.
Just comfort.
That made things easier.
“Stephanie.”
She turned.
Victoria Ellison stood near the sitting area, one hand resting lightly against the back of a chair.
She looked… different.
Still composed. Still sharp.
But there was something else now.
Something quieter.
Stephanie smiled.
“Victoria. I hope I’m not interrupting.”
Victoria gave her a look.
“You are,” she said simply. “But come in.”
Stephanie huffed a small laugh.
Fair enough.
Mark stepped forward, handing over the gift.
“For you,” Stephanie said. “Congratulations.”
Victoria glanced at it, then back at her.
“You didn’t come here for this.”
Stephanie tilted her head slightly.
“Can I pretend I did for at least two minutes?”
Victoria’s lips twitched.
“Two minutes,” she allowed.
And just like that
The tension softened.
Slightly.
“Where is he?” Stephanie asked.
Victoria nodded toward the inner room.
“Asleep. Miraculously.”
Stephanie stepped a little closer, lowering her voice instinctively.
“Can I see him?”
Victoria watched her for a second.
Then nodded.
“Briefly.”
The room was dimmer.
Warmer.
Stephanie stepped in carefully, like the space itself demanded quiet.
The baby lay in the crib, impossibly small, wrapped in soft fabric.
Stephanie paused.
Something about it—
The stillness.
The fragility.
It made her… slow down.
“Wow,” she murmured.
Victoria leaned lightly against the doorframe.
“You look surprised.”
“I am,” Stephanie admitted quietly.
“He’s so… tiny.”
Victoria smiled faintly.
“They always are.”
Stephanie leaned slightly closer, careful not to touch.
For a moment
Just a moment
She wasn’t thinking about the board.
Or the company.
Or strategy.
Just…
This.
How he looked so calm
So peaceful and carefree
What did he have to bother about anyway?
A smile crept on her face
And as soon as she noticed
She straightened.
Composed again.
Back in the living room, Victoria sat.
Stephanie followed.
Mark remained behind her, silent as ever.
Observing.
“So,” Victoria said.
And just like that
The softness ended.
Stephanie didn’t pretend anymore.
“You abstained today.”
Victoria didn’t blink.
“I did.”
“That’s unlike you.”
Victoria tilted her head.
“And you came all this way to point that out?”
Stephanie crossed one leg over the other.
“I came to understand it.”
A pause.
Victoria studied her.
Then
“You were doing so well,” she said lightly.
Stephanie blinked.
“With what?”
“Pretending to care about the baby.”
Stephanie let out a small laugh.
“I did care.”
“For exactly two minutes.”
Stephanie smiled.
“You said I had two minutes.”
Victoria’s lips curved.
Touché.
Victoria leaned back.
“You’re not married.”
There it was.
Stephanie didn’t react.
“No.”
“And the board doesn’t like that.”
“No.”
Victoria nodded slowly.
“And you think I should ignore that.”
“I think,” Stephanie said calmly, “you don’t make decisions based on outdated expectations.”
Victoria raised a brow.
“And I think you underestimate how much perception matters.”
Stephanie tilted her head.
“Do you?”
Victoria held her gaze.
“You’re brilliant,” she said.
Stephanie didn’t respond.
“But brilliance doesn’t always win rooms like that,” Victoria continued.
“Stability does.”
Stephanie’s expression sharpened slightly.
“And stability means a husband?”
Victoria shrugged lightly.
“It makes people comfortable.”
Stephanie smiled faintly.
“I’m not particularly interested in making people comfortable.”
“I know,” Victoria said.
“That’s part of the problem.”
Silence settled between them.
Then
Stephanie leaned forward slightly.
“The project moves forward… or it doesn’t.”
Victoria watched her.
“And?”
“And you already know what happens if it doesn’t.”
Victoria’s voice was calm.
“Say it.”
Stephanie didn’t hesitate.
“The company slows down.”
A beat.
“Investors notice.”
Another.
“And the board starts looking for someone to blame.”
Victoria’s gaze didn’t waver.
“And you think that won’t be you?”
Stephanie met her eyes.
“I think you’re too strategic to tie your vote to a weak outcome.”
There it was.
Not force.
Not emotion.
Just positioning.
Victoria smiled slowly.
“There she is.”
Stephanie said nothing.
Victoria leaned forward now.
“You didn’t come here to convince me.”
“No.”
“You came here to remind me.”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“And what exactly are you reminding me of?”
Stephanie’s voice was calm.
“That I’m the best option you have.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
Victoria studied her for a long moment.
Then
She laughed.
Soft. Knowing.
“I like you,” she said.
Stephanie raised a brow.
“You don’t sound surprised.”
“I’m not.”
Victoria adjusted slightly in her seat.
“You’ll have my vote.”
Just like that.
No drama.
No negotiation.
Stephanie nodded once.
“I know.”
Victoria smiled.
“You’re very sure of yourself.”
“I have reason to be.”
Victoria glanced briefly toward the hallway.
“He’ll grow up in a world where women like you exist,” she said.
Stephanie followed her gaze.
“Hopefully.”
Victoria looked back at her.
“Get married, Stephanie.”
There it was again.
Quieter this time.
Not pressure.
Just… advice.
Stephanie’s lips curved slightly.
“I’ll consider it.”
Victoria gave her a look.
“No, you won’t.”
Stephanie stood.
“You’re right.”
As she turned to leave, Mark followed.
Silent.
Efficient.
A quiet click of his phone
Barely noticeable.
Once they were in the car, Stephanie leaned back.
Mark glanced at her.
“Successful?”
Stephanie looked out the window as the city moved past.
“Yes.”
A pause.
Then
“Very.”
- Writer
