Elise's POV
The morning light spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Blackwell Group's boardroom, casting long shadows across the polished mahogany table. Elise stepped inside, her heels clicking with measured confidence. The board meeting was about to begin—a stage she had been preparing for, every moment since her return.
She scanned the room. The familiar faces, the wary eyes, the thinly veiled hostility mixed with curiosity. Liam Holloway sat at the head, looking every bit the titan she remembered, but with a faint crease of concern etched deeper than usual.
Her gaze met his for a brief moment. No words, but a silent challenge passed between them.
"Good morning," Elise said smoothly as she took her assigned seat. "Shall we begin?"
The CEO cleared his throat. "Ms. Carter, before we start, I trust you received the agenda?"
Elise nodded. "Yes. Let's discuss the Q2 projections."
Liam's POV
Liam studied Elise as she sat down, radiating calm control. The fact she had come back was one thing; the fact she was now playing in his arena was another entirely. There was a cold calculation in her eyes that told him she wasn't here to negotiate—she was here to win.
He glanced at the financial reports laid out before them. "Our Asian market share has taken a hit. Some of our partnerships are faltering."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the board.
Elise leaned forward. "May I suggest a different approach? Instead of doubling down blindly, we investigate the root causes. There are rumors about Liam's connections with the Yukimoto Group being questioned. I've reviewed the data; there are inconsistencies."
Murmurs turned into sharp glances.
Liam's jaw tightened. "You speak boldly for someone who only recently returned."
Elise's smile was ice. "Boldness is born of necessity."
Jessica's POV
Jessica watched the exchange from the corner, her heart pounding. She had been Elise's assistant for months now, loyal and protective. She knew the stakes were high, and tensions thicker than the humid summer air.
When Elise had asked her to dig into the Tokyo partnership quietly, Jessica had stayed up nights compiling reports, cross-checking contacts, and discreetly reaching out to sources.
Now, seeing Elise take charge in front of the board, Jessica felt a surge of pride mixed with apprehension. The boardroom was a battlefield, and Elise was no longer the woman she used to be.
Adrian's POV
Adrian Blackwell sat silently, arms folded, watching Elise dismantle the old narratives with surgical precision. She had the board's attention, and more importantly, she had Liam unsettled.
He had expected her to be cautious, maybe even submissive in this environment. Instead, she was commanding it.
The mention of the Yukimoto Group was a calculated move. Adrian knew Liam's dealings with them were delicate—too many secrets buried in that alliance.
He made a mental note to double-check the dossier on Elise. She was evolving faster than he'd anticipated. Dangerous, but fascinating.
Liam's POV
The CEO called the meeting to order again. "Ms. Carter, your points are noted. However, we must also consider the risks of destabilizing ongoing negotiations."
Elise replied, "Risk is inherent in growth. But ignorance is fatal."
Her words struck a nerve, and a low hum of murmurs erupted.
Liam raised a hand for silence. "We'll commission an internal review on the Yukimoto ties. But this doesn't mean we're abandoning our current path."
Elise nodded slowly. "Understood. But I urge the board to remain vigilant. I believe there are players working to undermine us—from within."
A tense silence followed. Liam's eyes flickered to his lieutenants, and he realized the game had shifted.
Elise's POV
When the meeting adjourned, Elise gathered her things calmly. Jessica approached, whispering, "There's a message for you—urgent. From Reina Tanaka."
Elise opened the encrypted email on her phone. A short video clip played: shadowy figures exchanging documents in a dimly lit warehouse in Tokyo. A voiceover whispered about a secret transfer related to Liam's assets.
Elise's lips curved into a smile. "The hunt has begun."