THE EMERGENCY MEETING.
1454 Words
Seraphina’s POV
Seraphina walked forward.
Her steps were steady, her back straight, and her eyes cold.
The employees standing outside the meeting room moved aside immediately when they saw her coming. The tension inside Phoenix Group had spread quickly. Everyone had heard about the leaked information.
Everyone was afraid, but Seraphina was not.
At least, she did not allow anyone to see it.
Clara followed closely behind her, holding a tablet against her chest.
“Miss Vale,” she said quietly, “everyone is inside.”
Seraphina stopped in front of the glass door.
Through it, she could see the executives sitting around the long table.
Some were whispering and the rest were checking their phones.
Others stared at the table with worried expressions.
The news had already reached several major business platforms.
Phoenix Group was planning a huge development project in the East District.
The land, investors and expected value of the project.
Too much information had already become public.
Seraphina’s eyes became colder.
“Good,” she said. Clara blinked.
“Good?” Seraphina looked at her.
“If everyone is already worried, there is no reason to make them wait longer.”
She pushed the door open. The room became silent immediately.
Every eye turned toward her, Seraphina walked inside without rushing.
She did not look angry, and did not look nervous.
That was what made everyone even more uncomfortable.
Marcus was standing near the window with his arms crossed. His eyes followed her carefully.
For a moment, their eyes met.
He knew her well enough to understand what was happening behind her calm face.
She was angry. Very angry. But Seraphina did not show it.
She walked to the empty chair at the head of the table and slowly sat down.
Clara placed her tablet in front of her.
Nobody spoke. Seraphina looked around the room.
Twelve executives. Twelve people who had access to the project.
Twelve possible suspects. Finally, she leaned back in her chair.
“Who wants to explain what happened?”
No one answered. The silence grew longer.
Seraphina looked at the faces around her.
Richard Bell, the financial director, avoided her eyes.
Olivia Grant, head of marketing, looked nervous.
Henry Cole, the legal adviser, kept adjusting his glasses.
And then there was Daniel Morris. Daniel was the project manager.
He had worked for Phoenix Group for almost two years.
He was good at his job, he was smart and experienced
But now, his fingers kept moving against the table.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Seraphina noticed.
“Mr. Bell.” Richard looked up quickly.
“Yes, Miss Vale?”
“Where were you when the information was leaked?”
The question surprised him. His face changed.
“I was in a meeting with the Northern Division.”
“From what time?” Ten in the morning until almost noon.”
“Who was there?” Richard swallowed.
“Four members of the division. I can give you their names.”
Seraphina nodded once.
“Do that.” She turned to Olivia.
“Miss Grant.” Olivia sat straighter.
“Yes?” Where were you?”
“I was meeting with the media team.”
“Did you access the East District files?”
Olivia frowned. No. I had no reason to.”
“Did anyone use your office?”
“No.” Seraphina stared at her for several seconds.
Then she looked away. One by one, she questioned everyone.
Their location, access. Their meetings. Their passwords.
Who entered their offices. Who had used their computers.
The room became more uncomfortable with every question.
Seraphina did not raise her voice. She did not accuse anyone.
That was the frightening part. Her calmness felt colder than anger.
Finally, her eyes landed on Daniel.
“Mr. Morris.” Daniel’s fingers stopped moving.
“Yes, Miss Vale?” Seraphina folded her hands on the table.
“Where were you?” Daniel cleared his throat.
“In my office.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“From what time?” His eyes moved slightly.
“Most of the morning.”
“Most?” Daniel quickly nodded.
“I went to the finance department for a few minutes.”
“Why?”
“To discuss the budget.” Seraphina looked at Richard.
Richard frowned. Daniel seemed to notice.
“Mr. Bell?” Richard slowly turned toward him.
“You didn’t come to my office yesterday.”
Daniel froze. The entire room became silent.
Seraphina did not move. Daniel quickly looked back at her.
“I meant the day before.”
Richard’s expression remained confused.
“I don’t remember that either.” Daniel’s face became slightly pale.
Marcus, who had been silent until then, slowly uncrossed his arms.
Seraphina noticed the movement from the corner of her eye.
But she kept her attention on Daniel.
“Are you sure about your answer?” she asked.
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes.” Seraphina continued staring at him.
He looked away first.
Interesting.
She could almost hear Marcus thinking the same thing.
But Seraphina did not accuse Daniel. Not yet.
“Alright.” Daniel looked up.
“That’s it?”
“For now.” His expression changed slightly.
Relief. A small amount of it.
Seraphina saw it. And so did Marcus.
She slowly turned toward the others.
“Now that we have discussed the problem, let’s discuss the solution.”
Olivia frowned.
“Solution?”
“Yes.”
“Miss Vale,” Richard said carefully, “the information has already been leaked. The media is reporting that Phoenix Group is preparing to buy the East District land.”
Seraphina nodded.
“I know.”
“Then the investors will start asking questions.”
“I know.”
“The landowners may increase their prices.”
“I know.”
Richard became quiet.
Seraphina looked around the room. Everyone was waiting for her.
Waiting for her to say the project was over.
Waiting for her to cancel it. Instead, she picked up the tablet in front of her.
“The East District project will continue.”
For a second, nobody moved. Then several people began speaking at once.
“What?”
“Miss Vale, that’s impossible.”
“We should delay it.”
“The market is already reacting.” Seraphina raised one hand.
The room immediately became silent again.
“The project is continuing,” she repeated.
“But not with the original strategy.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He was the only one who did not look surprised.
Because he knew her.
When someone attacked her, Seraphina did not move backward.
She changed direction.
Seraphina turned the tablet around so everyone could see the screen.
“The information that was leaked has already affected the market.”
She touched the screen.Several charts appeared.
“The East District landowners are expecting Phoenix Group to make a move. Which means the prices will rise.”
Olivia frowned.
“Exactly. That’s why continuing is dangerous.”
Seraphina looked at her.
“Only if we continue doing what they expect.”
She touched the screen again.A new map appeared.
“This was our original target.”
A large area of land in the East District appeared on the screen.
“Our competitors now believe this is where we are focusing.”
She looked around the room.
“So we will let them believe that.”
Confused expressions appeared around the table.
Seraphina continued.
“While everyone watches the East District, Phoenix Group will begin buying property around the South Harbor.”
Then Marcus smiled slightly.
There it was. The real Seraphina.
Richard leaned forward.
“The South Harbor?”
“Yes.”
“But that area has nothing to do with our original project.”
Seraphina’s eyes became sharp.
“It does now.”
She began explaining the new plan.
The South Harbor was an old industrial area.
For years, no major company had invested heavily in it.
But Seraphina had studied the city development reports.
The government was planning new transportation routes.
A railway line. A major highway.
Once those plans became public, the value of the entire area would rise.
Phoenix Group would move first.By the time anyone understood what was happening, it would already be too late.
Marcus watched her with a proud expression.
Five years ago, Elena had been a woman trapped inside a cold mansion.
Now, Seraphina sat at the head of a room filled with powerful executives.
And every single person was listening to her.
Seraphina placed both hands on the table.
“The leaked information changes nothing.”
Her voice was firm.
“In fact, it gives us an advantage.”
The executives looked at one another.
Slowly, their panic began to disappear.
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