CHAPTER 5- DARNELL'S POV

“You have a meeting with the board this morning, a press conference later in the day to announce the partnership between Blackridge and the Langford Corporation…”

Amy kept going over my schedule while I leaned back in my seat, only half listening.

I briefly opened the file on my desk containing the agreement I signed a few months ago. My signature sat on the right—and the other on the left belonged to Elliot Bennett. The cause of my weariness… and my father-in-law.

At least, not yet.

I closed the file and pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration as Amy kept talking.

“Sir, are you okay? I could call a doctor if you’re not feeling well,” she offered, sounding genuinely concerned.

I raised my head and met her worried gaze. “I’m okay," I assured her. "Go on."

Despite everything going according to plan, I hadn’t had a good night’s rest in weeks—except for last Tuesday. For some reason, I slept better that day than I had in months. And the reason for that had been on my mind ever since. It lingered long enough that I had to replay that night just to get a few hours of sleep.

“If you say so.” Amy still didn’t look convinced. The main reason she had remained my executive assistant for so long was because she did her job well—too well. Sometimes I wanted to fire her.

“The board meeting will begin in a few minutes. All partners and shareholders are already in the room awaiting your arrival…”

I gave her a slight nod.

“…including Mr. Bennett,” she added carefully, as if she already knew how much I disliked the name.

I closed my eyes briefly as the migraine intensified.

“Are you sure you’re okay? I should—”

“You can leave now,” I cut her off before she could say more.

She hesitated, then quietly walked out of the office.

I picked up the agreement and flung it across the room, sinking deeper into my chair.

He was a partner now. Of course he’d be in the board meetings. But I wasn’t sure I was ready to see his face again.

Elliot Bennett had been a pain in my ass since the Echelon Project began. I’d spearheaded hundreds of urban development projects in my life, but this one… this one made me do things. Sign deals. Make promises. Sacrifices.

Promises I had no choice but to keep—and sacrifices that kept me up at night.

I reached for the painkillers in my drawer and tossed a few into my mouth before pushing my chair back, straightening my suit, and heading out of my office toward the conference room.

The room was filled with all members of the board, just like every other meeting.

All eyes moved toward me as I stepped inside.

Mine moved on their own and found him, sitting on the right. We didn’t need to say a word to know what each other was thinking.

I really hoped he knew I was planning on how to get rid of him.

I took the seat at the head of the table. “I’m glad you all made it,” I said, voice steady, hands entwined on the table.

They all looked at me with smiles. I’d been doing this since I was seventeen—walking into a room filled with people twice my age and commanding respect. Even those who didn’t want to be there or had something to say wouldn’t dare.

It was all I’d ever known how to do.

The meeting began immediately, and everyone was given a chance to speak. I did more listening, acknowledging ideas brought up by some members, while others argued among themselves about whether the Echelon Project should continue acquiring the lands of farmers—who would obviously be paid more than they could ever earn in two lifetimes.

“Those farmers have had that land their whole lives,” Mr. Carlton—one of our largest shareholders and head of our consulting firm—fired back at another member.

“We’re not robbing them of their inheritance,” I finally said, and the entire room went quiet. “We’re simply offering them a chance at a better life. They can afford the house they’ve always wanted and still have enough for retirement. This is business, and in business, we don’t operate on sentiment—we operate on opportunity.”

The room stayed silent. Some agreed with a nod, while a few others shifted in their seats, uncomfortable but unwilling to challenge me.

“Well said.” Elliot cut in from across the table, adding his two cents that were completely uncalled for.

My gaze snapped toward him. He had a faint smile that never quite reached his eyes.

I studied him briefly before shifting my attention to our attorney.

“In the absence of any objections, Mr. Carlton will ensure the acquisition phase proceeds as scheduled. Right, Mr. Carlton?”

Hesitantly, he replied, “Yes.”

That was all I needed.

“That’ll be all.”

With those closing words, the sounds of chairs being pushed back and footsteps leaving filled the room.

Amy quickly gathered the scattered documents on my table and carried them out.

Soon, everyone was gone except Elliot, who remained seated, leaning back and staring at me. like a fox

The silence felt heavy, stretched thin between us and I wasn’t in the mood for his games.

“Is there something I can help you with?” I asked, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.

He didn’t respond.

My patience had already worn thin. “Elliot, I’m not about to play this game today. So if you—”

“Careful, Darnell. That’s no way to speak to your future father-in-law.”

Anger flared instantly. My fists clenched, my jaw tightening.

He knew exactly how to get under my skin.

That smile returned. “It’s my first time on the board, and you didn’t bother doing an introduction.”

“Introductions are for people who earned their way onto the board—not forced it.”

Elliot’s expression shifted into feigned surprise. “I didn’t force my way. I simply paved one—and you just happen to be on the sidewalk.”

I’d dealt with many tycoons, and Elliot was easily the most cunning of them all. He had a multi-billion-dollar company with branches all over the US and Eastern Europe—yet he still wanted more.

How greedy could one man be?

Blackridge was the ninth biggest real estate company in the world. It had been fifteenth when my father was alive. When I took over, I raised it to ninth—with over eighteen branches worldwide.

I built it brick by brick.

And now it was attracting people like Elliot Bennett from all over the world.

“I am not your puppet. This company is the only thing that matters to me,” I made clear.

“What about Vanessa?”

My jaw ticked as I leaned back in my seat.

Of course.

It always came back to this.

“Your daughter is merely a pawn you’re willing to sacrifice for your own selfish gain,” I said, watching his face tense.

I wasn’t going to let him manipulate me into rethinking my priorities.

"Vanessa knows I would never do anything to hurt her. I love my daughter,” his voice rose slightly—like he was trying to convince himself.

“Keep telling yourself that.”

I stood, and without waiting for a response, walked out—leaving him with the weight of his own decisions.