Tony's POV
I enter the meeting room.
Everyone is already there—the main players.
I stand and walk toward my seat, signaling them to sit down.
— The meeting can begin, I say calmly.
They all sit.
She walks toward the large projector and inserts the USB drive with precision.
I watch her.
Every movement is measured, confident, calm.
She doesn't look intimidated, embarrassed, or unsure.
Just… calm.
And I don't like it at all.
When my father told me that it was Alex Besson's daughter from the Besson Group who would lead this meeting, I expected a serious woman. Not a spoiled brat, probably insolent, hiding behind a mask of kindness and calmness.
Behind that mask, I had prepared to find a daddy's girl, used to getting whatever she wanted… and I would be there to test her weakness.
I stand and walk toward the projector.
I stop just beside her and give a sarcastic smile.
— Miss Besson, I say, are you sure you want to lead this merger?
Or are you just here to look pretty in front of us?
She looks at me calmly, eyes steady.
She doesn't blink. Doesn't flinch.
— I am here to do the work. Not to please anyone, she replies simply.
I tilt my head slightly, intrigued by her composure.
— Really? And if I told you that this merger could fail because of a single misjudgment, wouldn't you be afraid?
A slight smile appears on her lips, almost amused:
— Fear never prevents mistakes, Mr. Arrison. Preparation and focus do. And I am ready.
I step a little closer, my voice almost a whisper:
— You know, Miss Besson… your father always had a… particular taste for choosing the people around him. If you are here, I suppose you inherited his… business talents.
She fixes her gaze on me. Her hands rest on the table, gripping her pen lightly, betraying a faint tension, but she does not yield.
— Interesting… she finally responds in a soft but firm voice, you have a strong opinion about my father.
I smile, pleased to see I sparked a little reaction:
— Oh, don't get me wrong… I respect your father's reputation. But sometimes, having a big name isn't enough to make everything run smoothly. And I doubt he prepared you for certain… realities of the real world.
I expect an explosive reaction.
She looks at me, poised, calm… majestic in her restraint:
— I am aware of my father's reputation, she says almost in a whisper, but I also know that he always taught me to think for myself.
I notice the slight tension in her jaw, but she doesn't raise her voice.
She doesn't lose control.
Then she focuses on her computer and says:
— Mr. Arrison, I am ready to begin.
Interesting… this girl isn't afraid. She doesn't fold.
— Very well, I say simply, show me that you are not just a daddy's girl.
Without waiting for her response, I return to my seat, eager to see what she is capable of.
Esther's POV
Finally, the meeting is over.
I accomplished what I came for.
And it wasn't easy… especially dealing with the other one.
At the end, he just said:
— Thank you very much, Miss. We will call you.
Then he ended the meeting.
Two hours of talking and negotiating, and that's all he says.
It's like he doesn't know what he's doing… but I'm boiling inside.
If it weren't for my father, I would have put that grumpy man in his place.
Grumpy… Mr. Grumpy. Fits him well.
Anyway.
I think I did pretty well.
I feel like I impressed everyone.
And I'm proud of myself.
Even when Mr. Grumpy kept testing me, staring at me strangely, I handled it.
I shake hands with my father's lawyer.
— You were perfect. Your father will be proud of you.
I smile shyly in response.
Others come over too, shake my hand, congratulate me, then leave.
Honestly, I don't feel like talking to him.
I pack my things and leave.
I see him coming toward me… but I have no desire to engage.
All I want is to curl up in my mother's arms and sleep.
That's all I want.
I walk, lost in thought, when suddenly someone grabs my arm.
Everything happens so fast, I don't even see who it is.
Then, all of a sudden, the figure moves toward me.
I'm not going to lie… I'm really scared.
What if they kidnap me?
Or worse… what if they try to kill me?
I start panicking when the light turns on.
Oh God.
No… what is he doing here?
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