CHAPTER TWELVE

SELENE’s POV

The black Aston Martin rolled smoothly into the underground entrance of Arden Corporation at exactly eight-thirty in the morning.

By the time the car stopped, three executives were already waiting near the private elevator alongside security personnel and assistants holding tablets against their chests.

My assistant, Clara, stepped out first and opened the back door for me, I was met with greetings as soon as I stepped out. I nodded once while I walked toward the elevator, my heels echoed softly against the dark granite flooring.

Clara followed closely beside me while Marcus remained downstairs with security.

“Tokyo approved the shipping merger overnight,” Clara informed me calmly as we stepped into the elevator. “Singapore still wants revisions before signing.”

“Push Singapore by Friday.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“The Riverton board?”

“Still divided.” Clara answered politely.

I looked ahead gently. “Not for long.”

The elevator doors dinged open onto the executive floor. Arden Tower was already alive with movement, assistants walking quickly through hallways, phones ringing nonstop, executives discussing numbers worth billions.

The floor-to-ceiling glass overlooked almost the entire financial district from this height. The design inside Arden Corporation was elegant and expensive without looking extra.

The moment I stepped onto the executive floor, every employee standing outside the conference room greeted immediately, people straightened. Fear and respect often looked alike in the corporate world.

“Good morning, Miss Arden.”

I acknowledged them with a slight nod before entering the boardroom.

The room was completely silent, twelve executives sat around the massive black conference table, each with files already opened in front of them. Several screens displayed international market movements and acquisition reports.

I took my seat at the head of the table calmly.

“Begin.”

A senior executive stood immediately. “Blackthorn Holdings integration has been completed across all operational sectors. Laurent Group hasn’t publicly responded yet, but internal reactions suggest financial pressure.”

“As expected,” I replied.

Another executive adjusted his glasses nervously before speaking. “Riverton Maritime remains our biggest obstacle right now. Two board members are still loyal to Laurent Group partnerships.”

“Loyalty changes when numbers change.” I said sharply.

I looked toward Clara, “The revised acquisition offer?”

She slid the document toward me respectfully. I scanned through the figures briefly before I signed. “Send it before noon.”

“Alright ma’am,” she responded politely as she tugged the document neatly in its folder.

One of the executives, an older man hesitated slightly before speaking. “Miss Arden… if Riverton accepts this deal, Laurent Group will lose nearly forty percent of its overseas shipping flexibility.”

I looked up slowly. “And?”

The older man immediately lowered his eyes. “Nothing, ma’am.”

“Business was never about mercy, Mr Lucien.” I said coldly, my eyes sending a straight warning.

“You’re right ma’am,” he replied, his eyes still lowered.

The next twenty minutes was spent discussing future acquisitions and prospectus.

By the time the last executive closed the large oak door behind him. Clara was the only one left with me in the boardroom.

She handed me the tablet she was holding across the table. “Media coverage from the gala increased overnight.”

I skimmed through several headlines quickly.

SELENE ARDEN ARRIVAL SHAKES ELITE MARKET.

ARDEN CORPORATION TARGETS LAURENT GROUP INTERESTS.

NEW BILLIONAIRE POWER PLAYER ENTERS CITY.

ADRIAN LAURENT AND SELENE ARDEN SPOTTED IN PRIVATE CONVERSATION DURING WHITMORE GALA.

My eyes lingered on the later for a second before I locked the screen, the media loved attaching meaning to proximity.

“Send other necessary documents to my office,” I said as I walked out of the boardroom.

“Alright Miss Arden,” she replied softly.

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

“Miss Arden, Laurent Group confirmed the meeting.”

I looked up from the document in my hand as Clara stepped into the office.

“What time?”

“Two o’clock this afternoon.”

I nodded once before returning my attention to the contract spread across the desk.

“Riverton’s board had also responded,” Clara continued carefully. “They’re leaning toward signing with us.”

A faint smile touched my lips briefly. “Good.”

That acquisition alone would destabilize Laurent Group’s transportation structure for months. It’s not enough to destroy them entirely, but enough to force pressure where it mattered.

These four years had thought me to move in the rhythm of power. Pressure exposed weakness and powerful families always had weaknesses.

I closed the file in front of me before standing up slowly. The brown fitted dress I wore today was simpler than the gown from the gala, but still sharp enough to command attention the second I entered a room.

“Your schedule after the meeting?” Clara asked.

“Clear it.”

She blinked slightly. “The entire evening?”

“Yes.”

Clara nodded immediately without questioning further. People around me had learned quickly not to ask unnecessary questions.

The city skyline stretched behind the glass windows as I walked toward them slowly. Somewhere beyond those buildings sat Laurent Group headquarters.

Adrian would be sitting right there now, probably preparing for this meeting already.

I folded my arms lightly as I turned toward Clara again.

“Has Adrian Laurent tried investigating me?” I asked suddenly.

Clara checked her tablet. “Nothing unusual yet. But several financial reporters are already speculating about Arden Corporation targeting Laurent Group directly.”

“They’re not wrong.” I muttered under my breath.

“People are also curious why you requested a private meeting instead of using representatives.”

I stared quietly at the blank space for another second while a faint smile tugged at my lips.

“Because some conversations are more effective face-to-face. Especially when the other person doesn’t realize they’re already being studied.”