Chapter 3 -The Unexpected Offer

Lena barely slept that night.

The confidential acquisition proposal Alexander had given her was spread across her small dining table. Numbers, contracts, financial reports, and company profiles covered almost every inch of the surface.

She rubbed her tired eyes.

“Who gives someone one night to analyze all this?”

Alexander Blackwood.

Of course.

She sighed and continued reading.

There was something strange about the acquisition.

Blackwood International was planning to purchase a smaller technology company called Veyron Solutions. On paper, the company looked profitable.

But the numbers didn't match.

Lena frowned.

She checked the financial statements again.

Then again.

There it was.

A hidden liability.

Someone had transferred a large amount of debt into a subsidiary three years ago.

If Blackwood International completed the acquisition without discovering it, the company could lose millions.

Lena immediately grabbed her laptop.

She worked until almost three in the morning.

By sunrise, she had prepared a report.

She stared at the clock.

7:12 a.m.

“I'm going to regret this.”

---

At exactly 7:55 a.m., Lena entered the Blackwood International building.

She was holding two cups of coffee.

One for herself.

And one for the CEO.

She wasn't sure why she had bought his coffee.

Maybe because she had accidentally ruined his suit.

Maybe because she was trying to make peace.

Or maybe because she was terrified of disappointing him.

She reached the executive floor.

Before she could knock, the door opened.

Alexander stood there.

He was already dressed in another perfectly tailored black suit.

His eyes immediately landed on the coffee in her hand.

“What is that?”

“Peace offering.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“For what?”

“The suit.”

“You already paid for it.”

“Exactly. That's why I'm offering coffee instead.”

Alexander stared at her.

Then his gaze shifted to the cup.

“What did you order?”

“Black coffee. No sugar.”

His expression changed slightly.

“You remembered.”

Lena shrugged.

“You mentioned it yesterday.”

He took the cup from her.

“Thank you.”

It was the first time she had heard those words from him.

She smiled.

“You're welcome.”

Then she remembered the report.

“I finished the analysis.”

Alexander stepped aside.

“Come in.”

---

Ten minutes later, Lena stood in front of the large glass desk in his office.

Alexander carefully read her report.

His expression became more serious with every page.

Finally, he looked up.

“Where did you find this?”

“The subsidiary records.”

“These records were reviewed by three senior financial analysts.”

“I know.”

“And they missed it.”

“Yes.”

Alexander leaned back.

“How?”

“Because whoever prepared the documents wanted people to miss it.”

He studied her.

“You think it was intentional?”

“I don't think.”

Lena pointed at the report.

“I know.”

Alexander's eyes narrowed.

“Explain.”

“The debt was moved between three subsidiaries over eighteen months. The transactions were small enough not to attract attention individually, but together they create a liability of almost twenty million dollars.”

Silence.

Alexander slowly stood.

“Twenty million.”

Lena nodded.

“If Blackwood International buys Veyron Solutions, we inherit that debt.”

Alexander walked toward the windows.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then his phone rang.

He answered.

“What?”

His expression immediately hardened.

Lena watched him carefully.

“What happened?”

Alexander ended the call.

“Veyron Solutions just accepted another offer.”

Lena's eyes widened.

“Another buyer?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

Alexander looked at her.

“Someone who apparently knows about the debt.”

Lena's stomach tightened.

“Then they knew about the problem before us.”

“Exactly.”

He walked back to his desk.

“And that means someone inside Blackwood leaked information.”

Lena suddenly felt uncomfortable.

“Do you think it was someone from your team?”

“I know it was.”

He looked directly at her.

“And I don't know who.”

Lena swallowed.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because from today onward, you won't be working as my assistant.”

Her eyes widened.

“What?”

Alexander placed a new document in front of her.

“I'm assigning you to my private executive team.”

Lena stared at the document.

“You're promoting me?”

“Temporarily.”

“To what position?”

“Executive Strategy Assistant.”

She couldn't believe it.

“But I've only been here three months.”

“I know.”

“There are people with more experience.”

“I know.”

“They're going to hate me.”

“I know.”

Lena stared at him.

“Do you always say ‘I know’ when someone has a reasonable argument?”

“Yes.”

She sighed.

“Of course you do.”

Alexander's lips curved slightly.

Then his expression became serious again.

“There is one condition.”

“What?”

“You work directly under me.”

Lena's heart skipped.

“Directly?”

“Yes.”

“No other supervisor?”

“No.”

“Why?”

Alexander stepped closer.

“Because I don't trust anyone else.”

Their eyes met.

For some reason, Lena couldn't look away.

His voice became quieter.

“And right now, you're the only person in this company I believe I can trust.”

Lena's breath caught.

Before she could respond, Alexander's phone rang again.

He answered.

His face changed.

“What do you mean she's here?”

Lena frowned.

Alexander slowly looked at her.

Then he said,

“Don't let her leave the building.”

Lena's heart began pounding.

“Who is she?”

Alexander ended the call.

He looked at Lena with an expression she had never seen before.

Fear.

Not for himself.

For her.

“Lena…”

“Yes?”

“There is something you need to know.”

He paused.

“The woman who just entered this building…”

His eyes darkened.

“She is your older sister.”