CHAPTER 8 Collision Course

The conference room was already half full when Leah arrived; voices overlapped in low, controlled conversations, screens glowed, and assistants moved quietly along the edges, placing files, adjusting chairs, and pouring water.

Leah stepped in; she was calm, composed, and prepared

As she moved toward her assigned seat, “Miss Leah," a voice called out

I turned to see who it was; he was one of Mark’s senior managers and gestured toward the front row. “Mr. Mark wants you seated here.” he said

Of course he did, I thought to myself as I nodded. “Thank you.” I said to him

I walked forward and stopped on my track because Cole was already seated across the table watching me.

The air felt tighter and more tensed. I looked to my assigned seat, walked there, pulled out my chair, and sat down looking composed and unbothered.

Cole leaned back slightly in his seat; his eyes were still on me. “Didn’t expect to see you here,” he said, sounding casual.

I opened her file. "You should start expecting better competition,” I replied him

I saw his jaw tighten slightly, then he asked, “Representing Mark now?”

“Yes.” I replied him

“That was quick," he said

“So was the divorce.” I replied, focusing on my file

His fingers tapped against the table, and then it stopped. I saw from the corner of my eye that he wanted to say something, but before he could respond, the door opened, and Mark walked in. The moment he walked in, the conversations in the room walked in, and chairs straightened. People were beginning to pay attention now. Mark didn’t look at anyone immediately; he took his seat at the head of the table, looking as calm as ever. Then his gaze rested on me for a moment, and then he rested them back to the documents in front of him. “Let’s begin,” he said.

The presentation started smoothly, with numbers, projections, and market positioning. I followed everything easily.

Across the table, Cole spoke with his usual precision; he was controlled, confident, and seemed untouchable. He was someone everyone respected, someone she used to stand beside.

But now the table has flipped; she noticed that he occasionally was watching me, I maintained a cam composure all through.

Midway through the meeting, Cole leaned forward. “I’d like to address a concern,” he said.

The room became quiet. “When entering a competitive restructuring of this scale,” he continued, “experience matters.” A few heads nodded; his gaze shifted and landed directly on me.

“And relying on the newly appointed analysts may introduce unnecessary risk.” Eyes turned toward me.

“Are you referring to me?” I asked closing the file in front of me

With a straight face, "If the context applies," he replied

“Then I’ll respond.” I leaned forward slightly, keeping my voice calm. “You’re right,” I continued. “Experience matters, and so does perspective."

The room was silent; I watched as his gaze sharpened. I continued, “Experience often relies on patterns, repetition, and predictability." Tilting my head slightly, “And predictability… is easy to anticipate.” I said

I saw a few executives exchange glances, but that didn’t stop me. "In fact,” I added, “it’s usually what competitors build strategies around.”

“So the real risk isn’t in being new; it is being too familiar."

There was drop-dead silence in the room; Cole didn’t respond immediately. I sat back on my chair.

One of the board members cleared his throat. “That’s… a valid point," he said. Another member nodded.

"A fresh strategy can disrupt expected outcomes," the board member continued as the conversation shifted.

Cole POV

Cole’s expression didn’t change, but his focus did as he wasn’t thinking about the deal anymore but about his ex-wife. When did she become like this? He asked himself

This wasn’t the same woman who used to stand quietly beside him, chose her words carefully and avoided confrontation

This version of Leah didn’t hesitate, and this unsettled him more than anything she had said.

Mark finally spoke. “Miss Leah will lead the strategic review moving forward.”

She looked from where Cole was seated; he was obviously not pleased with it, as his gaze darkened slightly.

The meeting ended as everyone was exchanging pleasantries, prepared to leave. I gathered my things to leave. As I turned, I saw Cole already standing near me; he was too close

“You’ve changed,” he said quietly.

I met his eyes. “No,” I replied. “I only stopped waiting for approval," I said

I watched as his jaw tightened. “You think this is a game?” he asked

"No," I replied, maintaining my calm expression

I stepped past him to create more space between us, “and that’s why I won’t lose.” I said as I walked away as Cole stood there and watch me leave.