Chapter 25

Richard followed Lana, his heart hammering in his chest, into the hotel’s presidential suite.

“Please, this way,” Lana said, opening the door.

Richard thanked Lana and stepped inside. Standing before a grand mahogany desk was a woman, her back to him. When she turned, Richard gasped. She was the most beautiful and regal woman he had ever seen.

“This is the president of our SIE Corporation,” Lana introduced. “Miss Noir.”

“Miss Noir? Hello, my name is Richard Wood,” he stammered.

Sienna gave a slight nod, her expression frosty, her eyes as sharp as daggers. The sheer force of her presence was suffocating. She gestured to the file on her desk. Her voice was like ice, carrying an undeniable authority.

“I will acquire Dynastis, and I will give your company the greatest possible profit margin,” she said. “But I have one condition. You will manage my sister according to my specific instructions.”

“Sister?” Richard asked, confused.

“Mr. Wood,” Lana clarified. “Vivian is our president’s sister.”

“What?” Richard felt his jaw hit the floor. His mind reeled. Am I dreaming? Did she say Vivian? Our Vivian Hart?

Vivian Hart was the sister of the president of SIE Corporation, making her the second princess of a corporate empire. Richard couldn’t believe such a person had been working for him.

His mind raced, replaying every interaction he’d ever had with her. Had he ever been too harsh? Had he ever docked her pay? No, thank God. He’d been fair.

No wonder SIE wanted to acquire his company, he thought. It was all because of Vivian. He hadn’t just gotten lucky, he’d hit the jackpot.

Lana continued. “And our president does not wish for anyone else to know about this.”

Richard wiped the sweat from his brow, nodding vigorously. “I understand completely. Miss Noir, you have my word. I will be as silent as the grave.”

He practically stumbled out of the hotel, his legs like jelly. He had just met the legendary president of SIE Corporation.

He slapped himself hard across the face. It wasn’t a dream. He threw his head back and laughed, earning strange looks from passersby.

Meanwhile, Sophie was looking for Lana in the same hotel, but remained clueless. Angrily, she yelled to her assistant.

“You useless fool!” she snapped. “You said SIE’s executive assistant, Lana, was at this hotel. Why can’t you find her?”

“Miss Quinn, my sources were certain she would be here today. I don’t know which room she’s in,” the assistant pleaded.

“Then go find out, you idiot!” Sophie shrieked. “I’ve been waiting a year for this opportunity. I have to get in front of her!”

It was the only way she could get close to the president of SIE. If she could land a deal with them, the status of her branch of the Quinn family would soar.

Richard, overhearing her, sneered to himself. The assistant! I just met the president herself. Sophie, you think you’re so clever, but you have no ethics, no loyalty. You treated Vivian so poorly. Well, a storm is coming. Your family is about to go bankrupt.

As for himself, Richard knew he had hitched his wagon to a star. His life was set.

On the other side, Vivian couldn’t believe they had actually signed the contract. Walking out of the meeting room, she pinched herself to make sure it was real. It was. She had done it.

Richard saw her and practically skipped over, his face beaming. “Vivian! How did it go?”

“Mr. Wood, I signed it,” she said, handing him the contract. “And they gave us an incredible profit margin!”

She was thrilled, but also a little confused. The meeting had been strange. The representative had mainly asked about her personal dreams and skills. But the end result was all that mattered.

Richard looked at the signed document, his hands trembling. He had known it would be a success, but seeing it with his own eyes was still different. “Vivian, you did wonderfully!” he said. “From now on, you are the company’s director, with a raise, of course!”

Vivian blushed. “I really didn’t do much.” The representative had asked the questions, and she had just answered them honestly.

Richard looked at her with reverence. You have no idea what you’ve done for me, he cried inside. Without you, SIE’s president would never have even glanced at my little company!