Chapter 117
117
THE afternoon sun dipped lower as the Satin & Sage boardroom buzzed with the aftermath of the collaboration meeting. Papers were being shuffled into files, laptops clicked shut, and soft murmurs of assistants exchanging schedules filled the air. Amelia had barely risen from her seat when the sound of the door opening again drew everyone’s attention.
Ryan stepped in, calm as ever, his dark suit crisp, his confident stride deliberate. He carried himself as though he belonged there, though Amelia hadn’t expected him to make an appearance until later in the day.
“Ma’am,” he greeted smoothly, his eyes flicking briefly to Adrian before settling on her with a warm smile. “I hope I’m not intruding. I thought I should stop by, see how the first round went. I finished from the meeting earlier than I expected,” he winked.
Something in his tone was too casual, too calculated. Adrian stiffened. This guy was getting on his nerves.
“Of course,” Amelia said quickly, masking her unease with professionalism. “We are just wrapping up p>
Ryan moved closer, his gaze sweeping across the table, landing squarely on Adrian.
“Mr. Cole,” he said, offering a handshake that was just a fraction too firm, too drawn out. “I have heard a lot about your proposals for us. Impressive work, really p>
Adrian accepted the handshake with equal control, his jaw tight, and his eyes steady.
“Well, Satin & Sage has made remarkable strides under you and my wife’s influence p>
The smile on Ryan’s face quickly disappeared, Adrian saw it, and he smiled satisfactorily.
The civility was strained, their smiles tight, like two fencers testing each other’s defenses. Amelia sensed the shift immediately. The air, already charged from the earlier interruption, thickened with silent competition.
As the discussion turned back to next steps, Ryan slid into the vacant chair beside Amelia, uninvited. He leaned forward, resting his arm on the table in a way that closed the space between them.
“So, Amelia,” he said smoothly, “how do you feel about Adrian’s timeline? Personally, I think it is a little too aggressive. Don’t you p>
Amelia hesitated, glancing at Adrian. She had been inclined to agree with Adrian’s push for bold expansion, but Ryan’s question seemed like a trap.
“I think it is ambitious,” she replied carefully. “But achievable if both teams stay aligned p>
“Ambitious,” Ryan echoed, a faint edge of skepticism in his voice. “That is one word for it. Risky might be another. I would hate to see Satin & Sage rushed into something we can’t sustain p>
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Calculated risks are part of growth. Playing safe keeps you stagnant p>
Ryan chuckled lightly, though the sound carried no humor.
“True. But recklessness has sunk bigger companies than either of ours. Sometimes restraint is wisdom p>
It was a duel now, every word cloaked in politeness but edged with rivalry. Peter shifted uneasily, glancing at Adrian for direction, while Amelia sat frozen between the two men, painfully aware that her boardroom had become a battlefield.
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“Tell me, Adrian,” Ryan pressed, tilting his head as though in casual curiosity, “what is driving this sudden interest in Satin & Sage? There are a dozen firms you could have pursued. Why us? And why now p>
The question was pointed. Amelia’s pulse spiked. She could feel Ryan’s intent, digging, exposing, hinting that Adrian’s motives might be personal.
Adrian didn’t flinch. He leaned back, calm but firm, his gaze steady on Ryan. He had been expecting this.
“Because Satin & Sage has potential. Because Amelia has built something worth collaborating with. Isn’t that enough p>
The way he said her name, it wasn’t lost on anyone. A ripple of silence swept the room, followed by Peter quickly clearing his throat, trying to smooth over the tension.
“Yes, well,” Peter said briskly, “the synergies are clear. The focus now is aligning execution plans. If we could perhaps finalize the preliminary rollout dates p>
But Ryan wasn’t done. He leaned even closer to Amelia, his hand brushing the edge of her chair as though staking
his claim.
“I only want what is best for you, Amelia. For our company,” he said, his voice pitched low, intimate, but loud enough for Adrian to hear.
Adrian’s hand tightened around the pen he was holding, his knuckles whitening, though his face remained impassive. His silence spoke louder than words, control wrestled against fury.
Then he scoffed.
“The last time I checked Ryan, you are just an assistant to the CEO, not her mouthpiece, neither her co-founder. Stay in your lane,” he said the last sentence as though he was sending a warning across to him.
Ryan’s voice hitched, he couldn’t say more word, and Adrian nodded knowingly. That was it.
Amelia, caught in the middle, forced herself to straighten.
“Gentlemen,” she said sharply, her tone slicing through the room, “this collaboration will only work if we leave egos out of it. We are here for strategy, not… personal rivalries. Adrian, this isn’t what you said have for me, and
limits please p>
Ryan, truly I’m giving you more edg
Both men fell silent, though their eyes locked across the table like blades unsheathed. Neither would yield, and Amelia knew it, this wasn’t just about business anymore. This was personal, and the collision course between Adrian and Ryan had only just begun.
She gathered her files, her heartbeat unsteady. Whatever storm had begun today, it wasn’t going to stop at this meeting. It goes on, she knew. 1
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.