Chapter 4: The Meeting

The penthouse was quiet in the early hours, wrapped in stillness broken only by the distant hum of the city below. Elena's bedroom was a spacious, quiet retreat with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, the lights outside casting a faint glow across the minimalist space.

Elena slept calmly on her bed, her eyes looked stressed out with a little frown on her face.

These past few days haven't made it any better.

Her phone rang.

Once.

Then again.

The sound cut sharply through the silence.

Elena's frown deepened, she stirred a little, her fingers shifting slightly against the sheets.

A pause.

The ringing continued, insistent now, refusing to be ignored.

Slowly, she opened her eyes.

The room came to focus—dim lighting, everything in its place.

For a moment, she didn't move, as if weighing whether the call was worth waking for.

The phone rang again.

With a quiet breath, she reached over and picked it up, her movements still heavy from sleep. She glanced at the screen.

A familiar name.

Her expression changed—not fully awake yet, but aware enough.

She accepted the call and brought the phone to her ear.

“Hello?” her voice came out calm, low, and slightly hoarse from sleep.

On the other end, her friend's voice came through—brighter, more energized, carrying a tone that didn't match the early hour.

“Hey Lena!” she said , her tone cheerful. “I almost gave up on calling you again.”

Elena rubbed her eyes almost uninterested. “What do you want?”

“That's cold. You haven't changed a bit” she replied, faking a pout.

“It's a video call sweetie, take the phone off your ears”

Elena brought the phone to eye level. “Oh, I didn't notice.”

“Yeah, you didn't,” her friend said with sacarsm.

“There better be a good explanation for disrupting my sleep,” Elena said, yawning.

“Yeah, there is. I'm coming back to New York,” she said beaming.

“Really, when?” Elena asked, lifting herself up from the bed.

“Calculating the time difference, I'll be there by noon,” she replied putting some clothes into her suitcase.

“Uhm… can you come pick me up? Maybe by 03:00 pm?”

“No problem, I got you,” Elena smiled. Not her usually empty smile. This one was genuine.

“Thanks babe, see you soon.” The call ended.

Elena laid back in bed smiling. Her smile ceased the moment she remembered her meeting with Adrian Vale.

“Vale Tower, Ten in the morning,” his voice lingered in her head, her gaze drifting to the ceiling.

They were finally meeting.

“You've got this len,” she said lifting herself up again, “you always had.”

----

The black car came to a smooth stop in front of Vale Tower.

Elena stepped out first.

The morning air was cool against her skin as she adjusted the hem of her coat. In front of her the towering glass structure reflected the early sunlight, its sharp edges gleaming like a monument built to remind the city who held power within its walls.

Vale Tower.

She has been here before.

But not like this.

Marcus stepped out from the other side, closing the car door behind him. He glanced up at the building, then back at her.

“You’re sure about this?” He asked quietly.

Elena didn't answer immediately.

Her eyes remained fixed on the entrance.

Employees moved in and out through the revolving doors, their steps quick, their expressions focused. No one lingered outside longer than necessary. Everything about the place felt efficient… controlled.

Like the man who owned it.

“Yes,” she said finally.

Marcus exhaled softly but said nothing more.

Together, they began walking towards the entrance.

Each step heavier than the last.

Not because of fear.

Because of what waited inside.

The revolving doors turned slowly as she approached it. She stepped in, and the panels rotated smoothly, carrying her into the building interior.

Marcus followed behind her as the doors continued their steady motion.

The cool air conditioned atmosphere of the lobby greeted them immediately.

Inside everything was polished, precise, and expensive. The marble floors reflected the overhead lighting, and the quiet hum of activity carried through the spacious hall.

Elena paused just inside the entrance.

For a brief moment, her eyes scanned the space.

This place has changed quite a lot.

Marcus leaned slightly toward her.

“Elevator’s this way,” he said.

Elena nodded.

They moved forward together.

As they walked across the lobby, a few employees subtly turned their heads in their direction. Whispers were faint but present. News traveled quickly in the business world, and Rivera Corporation’s crisis had already made headlines.

She could feel their curiosity.

Their judgment.

Their quiet speculation.

But Elena kept walking.

Unbothered.

Unshaken.

At the elevator bank, Marcus pressed the button.

The doors opened almost immediately.

They stepped inside.

The doors slid shut, enclosing them in a brief silence.

Marcus glanced at the control panel before pressing the top floor.

The elevator began to rise.

Floor numbers lit up one by one.

Elena stood still, her posture straight, her expression composed.

But inside, her thoughts were not as calm.

Five years.

Five years since she had last been in close proximity to Adrian Vale.

Back then, she hadn’t come as a negotiator.

She had come as someone who belonged.

Someone who believed the future she had planned was real.

Now she was returning to him under entirely different circumstances.

The elevator slowed.

Ding.

The doors opened.

Marcus stepped out first, followed by Elena.

The top floor was quieter than the lobby below. The atmosphere here felt different—more private, more controlled. A receptionist stood near a sleek desk, looking up as they approached.

“Miss Rivera,” she said politely. “Mr. Vale is expecting you.”

Elena gave a slight nod.

“Thank you.”

The receptionist gestured toward a set of double doors.

“Please go right in.”

Marcus glanced at Elena briefly.

This was it.

Elena didn’t hesitate.

She walked toward the doors and pushed them open.

Inside the office, Adrian Vale stood by the window.

His back was turned, his attention directed toward the city below. The sunlight from the large glass panels framed his silhouette, casting long shadows across the polished floor.

Daniel stood near the desk, reviewing something on a tablet.

At the sound of the door opening, both men turned.

Elena stepped inside.

The door closed quietly behind Marcus as he followed her in.

For a moment, the room fell into silence.

Adrian turned fully now.

His eyes met Elena’s.

Time seemed to slow.

Elena’s expression remained composed.

Adrian’s remained unreadable.

“Miss Rivera,” he said calmly.

“Mr. Vale,” Elena replied.

Their voices were steady.

Professional.

Controlled.

Adrian walked back toward his desk, his movements measured.

“Follow me,” Daniel said as he escorted them to the couch area.

“Have your seat, please,” he gestured to one of two-sitter couch placed opposite each other, a table between them. “Mr Vale will speak with you shortly.”

He walked back to the desk. Adrian was already seated staring at a document in his hands. They spoke quietly for a minute before Daniel worked out with his tab.

Marcus rubbed his hands nervously, anxiety evident in his face.

Elena was the opposite. Her expression was calm as always. She was trying to figure out what those two had been discussing. She couldn't dismiss the feeling that it was something serious.

Adrian finally walked to the couch area, taking his seat on a single-sitter facing the two couches.

For a brief moment, his eyes lingered on Elena longer than necessary.

“Shall we begin?” he asked.

Elena nodded.

“Yes.”

The meeting had started.

But for reasons neither of them would acknowledge…

This was not just business.

It never had been.