Xander's POV
I watched Elena from across the polished mahogany table, trying to make sense of the woman before me. The sharp, tailored suit, the severe bun, the way she effortlessly commanded the room—it was a stark contrast to the Elena I remembered, the one whose laugh used to fill my mansion, the one who stayed awake preparing my favorite dishes. Now, she was all business, her gaze unwavering, her expression unreadable.
“Mr. Vance,” she began, her voice crisp, cutting through the hushed anticipation in the room. “My team has conducted a preliminary review of Vance Industries’ publicly available financials. However, to move forward with any potential partnership, I’ll need a more granular understanding of your current liabilities, ongoing projects, and, most importantly, your projecte
