Chapter 11: The lie that bought me time

David's POV

The moment my eyes landed on Vivian's photograph inside Alexander Kane's file, my heart nearly stopped.

Time seemed to freeze.

The voices around the conference table faded into silence.

The presentation on the giant screen blurred before my eyes.

All I could see was her.

Vivian.

Her familiar face stared back from the document resting beneath Alexander Kane's hand.

How...

How was that possible?

My pulse pounded violently against my temples.

I forced myself to breathe.

No.

This had to be some misunderstanding.

Alexander Kane shouldn't know Vivian.

Their worlds were completely different.

Kind.

Gentle.

Ordinary.

Alexander Kane was one of the most powerful businessmen in the country.

Cold.

Untouchable.

A billionaire whose name alone could influence stock prices.

How could their paths possibly have crossed?

Thousands of questions raced through my mind.

Had someone investigated me?

Had Alexander discovered something about my personal life before agreeing to this meeting?

Did he know Vivian was my wife...

No.

My ex-wife.

The divorce papers had already been signed.

There was nothing connecting us anymore.

At least...

That was what I wanted everyone to believe.

I slowly lifted my head.

Alexander remained perfectly composed.

His fingers rested casually on the edge of the file.

Not a single emotion crossed his face.

It was impossible to tell whether the photograph meant anything to him.

Or whether he had deliberately left it visible for me to notice.

The silence inside the boardroom became suffocating.

Around the polished conference table, every executive seemed to sense the shift in atmosphere.

No one dared speak.

Even the air-conditioning sounded unusually loud.

I swallowed hard before forcing a polite smile.

"Mr. Kane..."

His dark eyes lifted to meet mine.

"Yes, Mr. Blackstone?"

His calm tone only made me more uneasy.

I cleared my throat, hoping my voice wouldn't betray my nerves.

"I couldn't help but notice the photograph."

Alexander glanced down at the folder before calmly closing it.

"You know her?"

The question landed like a hammer.

For one terrifying second...

I almost told the truth.

"She's my wife."

The words rose to my lips.

But I swallowed them.

Not here.

Not now.

Not in front of the board.

Not with a multi-billion-dollar partnership hanging in the balance.

One careless sentence could destroy everything my family had spent months building.

I forced another smile.

"Oh... Vivian?"

Alexander gave a single nod.

"Yes."

I leaned back slightly, pretending to be completely relaxed.

"She's simply a business associate."

The lie came out far more smoothly than I expected.

For a heartbeat...

No one moved.

Then I noticed the reactions around the table.

Several directors exchanged quick glances.

One of them lowered his eyes immediately.

Another adjusted his glasses without saying a word.

They understood.

Whether they agreed with me or not didn't matter.

Everyone in this room knew what was at stake.

Exposing the truth now would jeopardize the biggest deal in Blackstone Holdings' history.

Across the table, my father caught my eye.

Henry Blackstone's expression remained perfectly controlled.

Years of experience had taught him never to reveal his thoughts during negotiations.

Still...

He gave the smallest nod.

Barely noticeable.

It was enough.

He understood exactly what I was doing.

And he wasn't going to stop me.

Alexander continued watching me.

His expression remained unreadable.

"So..."

He folded his hands together.

"You've worked together?"

"Yes."

I answered without hesitation.

"A few business matters in the past."

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

The fewer details I offered...

The safer I would be.

Alexander didn't respond immediately.

Instead...

He simply looked at me.

Those few silent seconds stretched endlessly.

It felt as though he could see straight through every word I had spoken.

A drop of sweat slid slowly down my back beneath my tailored suit.

Finally...

He gave a slow nod.

"I see."

The pressure in my chest eased.

Slightly.

Had he believed me?

Or had he simply decided not to challenge me?

With Alexander Kane...

There was no way to tell.

One of the directors quickly sensed the opportunity to move the meeting forward.

"If we may continue..."

Alexander gestured toward the presentation screen.

"Please."

The atmosphere relaxed just enough for everyone to breathe again.

The presentation resumed.

Financial projections filled the screen.

Revenue charts.

Construction timelines.

Projected market expansion.

Luxury hotel acquisitions.

Healthcare investments.

International partnerships.

I stood confidently before the room.

Years of negotiations had prepared me for moments like this.

As I explained each proposal, my confidence slowly returned.

Numbers were easier than emotions.

Business was predictable.

People...

Not always.

Alexander interrupted only when necessary.

Each question he asked was sharp.

Precise.

Calculated.

He questioned projected profits.

Labor costs.

Legal compliance.

International tax structures.

Supply chain risks.

Foreign investment regulations.

Nothing escaped his attention.

Every answer seemed to generate another question.

Not because he doubted us.

Because he refused to overlook even the smallest detail.

By the time we reached the final proposal, even seasoned board members looked impressed.

My father rarely admired anyone.

Yet I caught him studying Alexander with unmistakable respect.

This wasn't merely a wealthy investor.

This was a man who understood every layer of business.

Nearly two hours later...

The final slide disappeared.

Alexander closed the report in front of him.

The quiet click echoed across the room.

Every conversation stopped instantly.

Everyone waited.

He folded his hands.

"I've reviewed everything."

Silence.

Complete silence.

"I like your vision."

Relief spread through the room.

Several executives exchanged smiles.

Someone quietly exhaled.

Months of preparation...

Countless negotiations...

Endless revisions...

Everything had led to this moment.

Alexander continued.

"I'll proceed with the investment."

For several seconds...

No one reacted.

It was almost as though nobody believed what they had heard.

Then the room erupted.

Smiles appeared.

Hands were shaken.

Quiet congratulations filled the conference room.

Even my father relaxed into his chair.

Months of uncertainty had finally ended.

I stood and extended my hand.

"Mr. Kane..."

"Thank you."

He rose smoothly and accepted my handshake.

His grip was firm.

Steady.

"I believe this partnership will benefit both companies."

"It certainly will," I replied.

For the first time in weeks...

I felt genuine optimism.

This agreement would transform Blackstone Holdings.

New developments would begin immediately.

Investors would celebrate.

Competitors would panic.

Our market value would soar.

Everything was finally falling into place.

Or so I believed.

As executives began gathering their documents, Alexander's assistant quietly approached him.

He leaned close and whispered something into his ear.

Alexander listened without interruption.

Then...

He gave a single nod.

Almost absentmindedly...

His eyes drifted toward me.

Something had changed.

Not anger.

Not suspicion.

Curiosity.

Measured.

Deliberate.

As though another piece of a puzzle had quietly fallen into place.

Without saying anything, he slipped Vivian's file back into his leather briefcase.

The movement was slow.

Unhurried.

Intentional.

Then he looked directly at me.

"Mr. Blackstone."

"Yes?"

"I hope we'll have many successful years working together."

I smiled.

"I'm certain we will."

For the first time that afternoon...

Alexander smiled back.

It was flawless.

Polite.

Professional.

But it never reached his eyes.

Then he spoke a single sentence.

One simple sentence.

One sentence that sent an icy chill crawling down my spine.

"I always make it a habit to learn everything about the people I do business with."

My smile froze.

Was that merely conversation?

Or was it a warning?

I searched his face for any clue.

There was nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Alexander buttoned his suit jacket.

Immediately, his security team formed around him with practiced precision.

The board members instinctively stepped aside, clearing a path toward the exit.

No one tried to stop him.

No one dared ask another question.

Only the sound of polished shoes echoed through the room as he walked away.

The elevator doors closed.

The silence lingered.

Only after they disappeared did the room finally breathe again.

My father walked over and rested a hand on my shoulder.

"You handled that well."

I nodded slowly.

"I hope so."

But deep inside...

Something refused to settle.

Alexander Kane had accepted my explanation far too easily.

Men like him didn't trust convenient answers.

They verified them.

And if there was one thing everyone knew about Alexander Kane...

It was this—

He always uncovered the truth.

No matter how deeply it was buried.