Underneath The Obsidian Veil

Chapter 12: Seeds Of Doubt

The shareholders stared at Kate with disgust clearly written on their faces.

“What do you know about business that you thought you could give out your opinion on?” Smith asked with a sneer.

“She doesn’t understand long term value! That was a very childish suggestion,” Another said.

“That’s not how we do business!”

The rest laughed, exchanging irritated glances.

“Enough!” Harry stepped in, hitting his fist against the table. “At least she offered a concrete solution while the rest of you only bicker. Isn’t it our duty to consider every option?”

The murmurs faded though the resentment lingered in the air.

Kate leaned back on her seat, feeling unfazed by their dismissal. She glanced at them, they don’t see it yet but one day she will make them choke on the very words they had used to belittle her.

“Since you are so sure of yourself, Miss Obisidan, why don’t you enlighten us?” Smith asked, leaning forward with a smirk tugging at his lips. How exactly would you salvage Darling Harbour? Where would you move the funds?”

A few men chuckled. They expected her to stutter but Kate had already seen through their plans.

Her eyes sharpened, she sat forward, her tone commanding but calm.

“You’ve already sunk millions into a project that has no return because you refuse to admit it was a mistake. Darling Harbour is nothing but a vanity project, and no amount of money will change that. The location is wrong, the demographic doesn’t match, and tourism is seasonal at best.”

The laughter died down slightly.

Kate continued, her voice steady. “Instead of bleeding resources, I propose we cut our losses and reinvest into renewable energy. The Australian government has already increased subsidies for green projects, and the Asia-Pacific market is expected to grow by twenty-five percent in the next five years. That’s real demand. Real money.”

A silence fell. Some of the older men frowned, clearly unsettled that she spoke with actual data.

One of the younger shareholders cleared his throat, glancing at the others before saying, “She’s… not wrong. The sector is booming. Several competitors are already moving that direction.”

Smith’s face tightened, unwilling to back down. “Even if that were true, numbers on paper don’t always translate to reality. We cannot gamble.”

Kate leaned back, a faint smirk playing on her lips. “What you call gambling, I call strategy. But by all means, gentlemen, keep patching a sinking ship. When it finally goes under, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Harry’s lips twitched with the faintest smile. For the first time, he saw the fire in his daughter that reminded him of himself in his youth.

“Alright gentlemen, let’s cast a vote. All those in favor of Kate’s plan raise your hands,” Harry announced.

There was a sudden shift in the atmosphere. The shareholders exchanged conflicted glances. Slowly, the younger ones began to raise their hands, the older one exchanged stiff looks, refusing to move. The numbers in favor of Kate were higher than those against and the meeting was adjourned.

Back in the office, Harry couldn’t help but marvel at his daughter’s ability. Deep down he had been scared for her because he knew how difficult it was to make people believe in you but Kate began to convince them in just one meeting. He definitely didn’t make the wrong choice.

“Kate, I am so proud of you. Originally, I was scared on your behalf but you have just shown me that there was no reason for me to be anxious,” he spoke with a smile.

Kate smiled back, realizing how nervous she actually was even though she was trying to put up a strong front in their midst. “Dad, this is just the beginning.”

Harry nodded affirmatively and soon his smile disappeared slowly and his expression was filled with wrong. Kate noticed the change.

“What’s wrong father?” She asked with a raised brow.

“We will be meeting with the Blackwood family today,” he announced. “They definitely didn’t take what you did lightly so I am very sure a confrontation will take place. You don’t have to come after all you have let us know your intentions. Leave it to me, I will handle it.”

However, Kate shook her decisively. “No. I will definitely come with you. If that will be the topic for discussion then there is no need for me to stay back. They might see me as a coward.”

“Yes!” Harry agreed with her. He noticed the change in his daughter’s behavior and wondered what might have happened to her that she began to behave this way.

His mind went to the meeting they had just concluded. How did Kate know that the project was going to flop? Even he who has been a business man for over 20 years had missed the loopholes but Kate had pointed them out.

“By the way, how did you know that the Darling Harbor project was going to fail? If not that you came along today, I didn’t even realize that there were loopholes at all.”

Kate smiled faintly. “Before I came here, I made sure to do a little bit of research on the ongoing projects,” she responded smoothly. “The signs will always be there, but it seems everyone was too distracted by the prestige of the project to notice.”

Harry narrowed his eyes, studying her closely. For a moment, it was as if he were staring at a stranger. This poised, calculating young woman sitting before him was not the Kate he knew, the shy, timid girl was gone.

“You have changed,” he said quietly.

“Change is necessary, father,” She replied. “Without change you can’t move forward and you could be stepped on by people if you seem weak.”

Harry leaned back in his chair, torn between pride and unease. “If this is truly who you are becoming, then Obsidian Group may yet have a future. But Kate…” His voice dropped, grave. “The Blackwoods won’t forgive this. You’ve humiliated Nathan in public and shaken their hold in business. They will come at you. Hard.”

Kate’s lips curved into a cool smile. “Then let them come.”

She rose from her seat, walking to the wide glass window that overlooked the city skyline. For a moment, she placed her hand against the cold glass, eyes narrowing at the sprawling world below.

In her past life, this city had watched her suffer and fall.

This time, it would watch her rise.