MILENA?

DAMIEN'S POV

“Sir, it seems you do not understand how crucial this deal is to us” My assistant, Aiden said, standing in front of my desk.

I barely heard him. My eyes were on the glass of whiskey I was slowly swirling in my hand, watching as the amber liquid swirled in the glass.

Crucial deal. Important. Whatever. I knew that already. Hale Enterprises had been aggressively expanding into the tech sector over the years, and this merger was the best shot we had at securing our foothold.

We would probably be able to succeed alone but without the right software infrastructure, our ambitions were dead in the water. We needed an innovation that could redefine security on a global scale.

And we had found it. The app was called Haven.

Or rather, she had found it.

Miss Carter. The unknown CEO of Haven.

Her app had started as a small project as I had done my research, but it had exploded into a revolutionary tool for women's safety, utilizing AI to predict danger, secure evidence, and help victims escape abuse. Governments were using it. Billion-dollar companies were lining up for a stake in it, asking for shares in the company. And now, she was making her first public appearance here in New York, not just as a tech CEO, but as a woman who ran the world from Switzerland.

The world knew her as Miss Carter.

She wasn't known beyond that to the public and I was truly curious to finally meet her. She was a true icon, someone able to do something like that? Damn, she was great.

Sighing, I ran a hand down my face, pushing away the thought. "Aiden, I'm well aware of how important this is. Get to the point."

Aiden cleared his throat. "Miss Carter isn't just selling her software. She's demanding a merger on her terms. I just received her email this morning about that and her secretary would inform us more about this. If we want access to Haven’s tech, we have to offer more than just money. She wants integration. She wants control over how her security AI is implemented within our systems."

I rubbed my chin at this new developmen. Smart. "So she doesn't trust us."

"Would you, if you were her? She's a business mogul" Aiden shot back, before hesitating. "Besides, she has other offers. If we don’t meet her terms, there are at least ten other companies that will."

That caught my attention.

"She doesn't want a buyout?" I asked, watching him silently.

"No," Aiden said firmly. "She refuses to sell Haven to any corporation. She wants a partnership. One where she has equal say, especially in how the AI is used. This is her life's work"

Carter. The name gave me chills and I realized I was still associating it to my worst regret and worst decision. Snap out of it, Damien. I made the right choice. I was being paranoid.

My fingers tapped against the desk as I processed that. It wasn’t just about business for her. Haven was personal. Had she had an experience that led her to make a tech for women's security?

"Fine," I muttered, standing. "Let's see what Miss Carter has to say for herself. Has her flight arrived?"

“Yes, her secretary is already here and she'll be here in less than an hour”

A buzz from my phone pulled my gaze down. A message flashed across the screen.

Sienna: Are you ignoring me?

Yes. Yes I was. She didn't need to know that though.

I didn’t reply. Instead, I locked the screen and adjusted my suit. “Let’s go. The board is waiting.”

The conference room was already filled with my board members when I arrived. A massive digital screen displayed a sleek presentation with the Haven logo. It was a minimalist design with an abstract phoenix woven into the letters.

Strength.

At the front of the room, The assistant I presume stood poised, addressing the executives with calm authority but she stopped as she saw me and she bowed slightly, waiting for me to sit down at the head table before she continued.

"Haven is more than just an app," she said, her voice steady. "It's an AI-driven security network designed to prevent harm before it happens. It’s already saved thousands of lives, and our expansion plans will make it the most powerful safety platform in the world."

One of the board members, an older man named Richard, leaned forward. "Miss Carter has declined every acquisition offer from major corporations. If she isn’t interested in selling, why consider a merger with Hale Enterprises?"

The assistant smiled politely. "Because unlike the others, you have something we need. We need global distribution infrastructure. Hale Enterprises has access to high-security networks, government contracts, and direct lines to industries where Haven could be life-changing. If we merge, we don’t just grow. We dominate the business world."

Another board member spoke up. "And what exactly does Miss Carter want in return?"

The assistant clicked to the next slide. "She wants complete oversight on how Haven’s AI is integrated. No modifications. No corporate interference. Not from anyone regardless of their status"

My brows raised and murmurs rippled through the room.

"That’s absurd," Richard scoffed. "She wants our network access, but refuses to let us optimize her software? How do we know she won’t use it against us? This is a business risk"

The assistant’s expression didn’t waver and for some reason I was impressed. "Haven isn’t just a product. It’s a mission. Miss Carter will not allow it to be weaponized, manipulated, or used for surveillance beyond its intended purpose."

"Then why partner with us at all?" another executive demanded.

"Because your company is at a crossroads," the assistant replied smoothly. "Your competitors are moving into AI-driven security. Without Haven, you’ll be obsolete in five years."

Silence.

I had to admit again, I was impressed. The team was sharp, strategic. They weren’t here to ask for a partnership. They were here to dictate one and they were already getting the upper hand.

Aiden glanced at me. "Sir?"

I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temple. "And when do we get to hear from Miss Carter herself? Surely, I should speak to the CEO herself, hm?"

Almost as if the universe had been waiting for me to ask… The doors to the conference room slammed open.

Every head turned.

The room fell into a stunned silence.

I looked up lazily, expecting another assistant.

Instead, I saw her stride in and my heart stopped as soon as the face registered in my brain.

It never left.

Without thinking, I was on my feet, my eyes wide as she sauntered in, a blank look on her pretty face.

“Milena?” I whispered.