Chapter 6: The Woman Behind the Deal

"Petra closed that deal with Briggs Corporation, only because we backed her." Brian said, buttoning his suit coat.

He stood with Emma at the reception that morning, both planning and discussing what was next after laying off Petra Hemsworth—the very woman whose inputs had brought Brooks Construction to where it was today.

The morning was unusually busy at the company.

Employees moved through the reception with files tucked under their arms, some speaking quietly into their phones while others hurried toward their respective departments.

Yet, inside the reception area, Brian and Emma seemed completely relaxed.

As far as they were concerned, Petra's departure was already old news.

Emma Darius had once been Brian's secretary. Now, she was his mistress, and with Petra gone, Brian had decided to hand her the Project Manager position that Petra had held for years.

To Emma, it was more than just a promotion.

It was a victory.

She had watched Petra walk away from the company carrying her belongings in a cardboard box.

She had watched the woman who once commanded respect throughout Brooks Construction lose everything in a matter of minutes.

And now, Emma was standing in Petra's position.

"Exactly." Emma said in support, holding up a file to her chest. "She couldn't have done it without us." "Now that I'm handing over the project to you, make sure it goes smoothly."

Brian nodded with satisfaction.

He had convinced himself that Petra's success had always depended on him.

Every major contract she had secured, every investor she had brought into the company, every opportunity she had created, he had already decided belonged to Brooks Construction.

And since he owned the company, he believed he owned the success too.

Emma smiled. "Don't worry, my love," she said, stepping closer seductively. "I'll never let you down." Her one hand wrapped round his neck as she spoke.

Brian's lips curved into a satisfied smile.

For a moment, the two forgot they were standing in the middle of the company's reception where employees could easily see them.

Emma rested against him without embarrassment, clearly enjoying the position she had finally secured.

Brian looked down at her with pride.

He had replaced Petra.

That was all that mattered to him. Or at least, that was what he thought.

Both were startled immediately a man walked in.

The sudden movement at the entrance drew their attention.

Oscar Briggs walked in with his hands tugged inside his pockets, looking around like he was specifically searching to see someone in particular. His appearance was calm, but there was something observant about his eyes.

His assistant, Maxwell Houston, walked behind him with a folder tucked underneath his arm.

Maxwell immediately noticed the unusual expression on Oscar's face.

Oscar had barely spoken since they entered the building.

He had expected Petra to be there.

After all, she was the person who had negotiated the entire five-million-dollar deal with Briggs Corporation. She had been the one who understood every detail of the proposal.

She knew the numbers, the timelines, the requirements and every condition Briggs Corporation had placed on the partnership.

So why was she nowhere to be seen?

"Welcome." Brian said warmly. "You must be the procurement manager from Briggs Corp." He stretched his hand to him for a handshake.

Oscar looked at Brian's extended hand for a brief second before taking it.

"That's right." Oscar said, taking his hand into his as they shook. "Where's Petra?"

The question immediately caught Brian off guard.

His smile remained on his face, but there was a brief flicker in his eyes.

He hadn't expected Oscar to ask about Petra so quickly.

Emma noticed it too and she exchanged a quick glance with Brian before looking back at Oscar.

Brian quickly composed himself. "We're finalizing the five million dollar contract today." He said instead.

He deliberately avoided answering the question.

Oscar's eyebrows lifted slightly.

That wasn't what he had asked.

He had asked where Petra was. But Brian had conveniently changed the subject to the contract.

There was something about Brian's response that didn't sit well with him.

Petra had never mentioned anything about leaving the company.

Not once.

In fact, when they discussed the deal, she had spoken about Brooks Construction as though she intended to remain there for a long time.

She had been confident.

Prepared.

And completely in control of the negotiation.

Oscar could still remember her sitting across from him at the restaurant, calmly explaining the proposal while answering every question he threw at her without hesitation.

She wasn't someone who would simply disappear before the biggest contract of her career was signed.

Emma noticed Oscar's silence and quickly stepped in.

"Follow me." Emma added, showing Oscar to the conference room. "The meeting room is right this way."

She turned immediately and began walking.

Brian followed beside her.

Oscar remained standing for another second, his eyes following them.

Something was wrong and he could feel it.

But he didn't know what yet.

His gaze slowly moved around the reception again.

He exhaled.

Then he turned and followed them.

Maxwell followed behind.

The four of them disappeared toward the conference room, leaving the busy reception behind.

************

Emma was pouring water into a glass and then took it to Oscar who sat opposite Brian, feeling kinda unrelaxed.

The conference room was large, polished and expensive, with a long glass table occupying the center.

The walls were decorated with framed certificates and awards celebrating Brooks Construction's achievements over the years.

Emma walked toward Oscar with the glass of water carefully balanced in her hand.

She placed it before him and returned her attention to the contract.

"I'm sure you have read through everything." Emma said as she drop the glass of water before him and then the file, opening it. "If there are no major concerns, we can finalize and sign for our partnership."

Her tone was confident.

She had already begun behaving like the contract belonged to her.

Brian sat beside her, watching with satisfaction.

To him, the meeting was supposed to be simple.

Oscar would review the final documents, sign the agreement, and the five-million-dollar deal would officially become part of Brooks Construction's portfolio.

After that, Brian would have another reason to celebrate.

The company would make headlines.

Investors would be pleased.

And Emma would receive the credit Petra had spent months earning.

Emma's posture became straighter as she waited.

Her tone and body language filled the air with that feminine power of conviction in business transaction.

But Oscar seemed uninterested.

Another woman seemed to have occupied his mind.

His eyes weren't even properly focused on Emma.

Instead, his thoughts were somewhere else.

Oscar had wondered what could have happened to her.

Now, sitting inside Brooks Construction's conference room, he was beginning to suspect that whatever had happened was connected to the people sitting across from him.

Brian cleared his throat.

"So, Mr. Briggs, everything is in order." He said, leaning forward slightly. "We have made sure all the necessary adjustments have been included."

Oscar looked at him.

Emma smiled and pushed the pen closer to him.

The silence that followed became increasingly uncomfortable.

They all waited for seconds longer than necessary for Oscar to sign.

Brian glanced briefly at Emma.

Emma returned the look. And none of them understood why Oscar was taking so long.

Oscar finally reached for the file, opened it and glanced at the few pages.

His eyes moved slowly across the documents.

His earlier relaxed expression disappeared completely.

"I remember discussing this deal with somebody else." Oscar said, meeting Brian's gaze. "Where's she?"