Ian nodded, signaling that he understood. Since Aurora was clearly fired up, there was no way he could afford to fall behind. He was determined to be Aurora’s most dependable right-hand man—not dead weight. His goal had always been crystal clear. Ever since that one pivotal moment when he’d learned so much from her, he had made a decision: as long as Aurora stayed in this company, he would stay by her side.
Later, Ian efficiently delivered all the latest project files from Hunt Enterprises. Aurora waved her hand, signaling he could step out. But in truth, Ian couldn’t help feeling a little puzzled. Watching how focused she was, he finally blurted out the question, figuring this might be the only chance he’d have to ask.
Better now than later. “Miss Walton, what exactly are these files for? If it’s just a dinner meeting, why go through all of their project data?”
It didn’t quite add up to him. Besides, he wouldn’t be joining the dinner. It was a meeting between two company heads–there was no place for him at that table.
Aurora let out a soft chuckle. “Sure, he’s my ex, but if he’s bold enough to come after my company now, I have every reason to be cautious. I need to understand exactly where he stands, otherwise how can I be prepared?”
Ian paused, then nodded in agreement. She had a point. He’d been overthinking it earlier. They might have history, but that didn’t mean she should go in blind. “I get it now, Miss Walton. I’ll get back to work. Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you tonight?”
Aurora let out a soft laugh. “It’s fine. Go focus on your own work. I’ve got that dinner under control–I can handle it alone.” Something flickered in her eyes, a dangerous glint. “Besides, I’ve already sent him to prison twice. If there’s one man I’m not afraid of, it’s him.”
Ian looked at the smile on her face and couldn’t help but feel a little unsettled. So, it was true–nothing was harder to deal with than a determined woman. “Alright then, I’ll leave you to it.”
This time, Ian didn’t hesitate. If Aurora didn’t need him there, then there was no reason for him to stay. Once he left, Aurora dove into the files in front of her.
She studied the performance reports of the subsidiary Joseph had been managing for the past month and, to her surprise, the numbers actually looked pretty solid. That wasn’t something she had expected. After all, his previous performance in front of her had been nothing short of useless. Frankly, he’d never shown much promise. But now, in just a month, the man had made real progress–something she hadn’t anticipated at all. It was a clear reminder not to underestimate anyone. Who knew what kind of person he might grow into?
Seeing that the appointment time was approaching, Aurora began to pack up and get ready to head out. Still, she didn’t leave too early. In situations like this, the woman was always expected to arrive last. Showing up too soon would only make her seem overly eager, and when it came to negotiating, eagerness meant losing the upper hand.