Chapter 7: The Review Hearing

Elena's POV

The review hearing was held in a glass building near the waterfront, they call it a neutral ground from my time here.

I arrived twenty minutes early and picked out a low bench in the lobby, taking a seat there with the portfolio resting on my knees.

I did all I could professionally do to keep my pulse steady, it worked for most of it, but my mouth felt dry.

I went through the main points of the proposal in my head one final time, not because I didn't already know them, but cause repeating them kept other thoughts away.

Claire arrived in a white suit that looked way too familiar. She paused when she saw me, then offered a small, careful smile, as if we were still colleagues who had simply had a difficult week.

Kevin came in a few minutes later, he didn't look at me at first, just went straight to one of the senior client representatives and began speaking in a low, secretive tone.

Good thing for my lip reading practice, an act I found handy during negotiations. Now, a tool for me.

I was able to catch pieces of their conversation from their movements, it all moved around financing flexibility, supply-chain guarantees, and the value of stability.

Kevin later took his seat and in a couple of minutes, my name was called. I stood and walked into the conference room without waiting to see if either of them would follow.

At the helm of things, I didn't mention the scandal, didn't mention Ashford either. I just opened the portfolio, turned it so the decision-makers could see the first revised rendering, and began.

I walked them through the revised plan, focusing on the three things the board had kept ignoring: movement, security, and a phased budget that cut the client's upfront risk. By the time I turned the final page, no one was looking at Claire anymore.

My voice stayed as professional as ever through it, my hands not shaking an inch.

I was about to continue when Claire's voice cut in. “Of course the overall vision still needs refining,” she said lightly. “We’ve always known that.”

One of the clients turned to her. “Can you walk us through the east-wing egress under the new layout?”

I turned slightly and watched as Claire’s smile held on for a second too long before fading. Then she glanced at the drawings, then at Kevin, then back at the client.

It was clear she couldn't, the silence that followed brought pity out of me towards her.

Kevin leaned forward. "A good presentation isn't the same as backing a project," he said smoothly. His eyes settled on me. "Without Ashford behind her, Elena has a portfolio and a name on a business card. That's all."

The implication settled fast, I knew exactly the game he was playing. But didn't respond to it though, just simply turned the next page of the portfolio and continued.

In the end, they didn't give me the full project.

The lead client closed the folder, rested his hands on top of it, and looked at me directly.

“We will offer a six-week independent review contract,” he said. “You will assess the existing plans and deliver a complete set of recommendations. There is no guarantee of further involvement after that.”

It was less than I had hoped for, but still more than anyone had been willing to give me yesterday.

I signed the temporary agreement on the spot, one of the smaller clients rising up sharply and collecting his things, formally withdrawing before I had even put the pen down.

As I left the room, I was handed over a few important details regarding my new office, a tag, a few cards and an ID.

I took it all, and headed out. Nearly down the stairs, my phone vibrated in my bag, confusing me for a second.

I picked it out and found a message from Maya, my colleague, or former colleague. The one person I could trust then.

Maya: I’m in. Just tell me where to show up.

I smiled at the message, taking a second to read it again.

I've got one person on my side now, a way smaller office, and a bloody strict deadline that can't be moved.

A narrow place to stand for sure, but it's all mine. That's what counts.

I didn't respond, just smiled one more time before dropping the phone back in my bed and heading down.

I spotted Dante waiting outside by his car. He pushed away from the door when he spotted me and stood straight.

I walked up to him, took one of the new business cards from my pocket, a thick paper with my own company name printed cleanly across the front, and slipped it into the breast pocket of his suit jacket.

My fingers rested against his chest for a moment too long, feeling the steady beat of his heart under the fabric.

His hand closed around my wrist before I could step back, and in one turn, he had us around so my back was against the car door and his body blocked the rest of the street.

His other hand settled on my lower back firmly. We were close enough that I had to tilt my head to meet his eyes.

“Marry me,” he whispered in a husky voice..

It didn't sound romantic, certainly not the way a proposal would. It rather came off as an advice, a suggestion.

I felt the tension move through his body when I did not answer immediately anyway, the air between us tightening with each breath.

He was close enough that I could have closed the distance and kissed him. But I didn't.

Instead I rose slightly on my feet, caught his lower lip between my teeth for the briefest second, then stepped out of his hold.

The heat I caused stayed in the air between us as Kevin’s voice cut across the pavement, loud enough to draw glances.

"You really think this is going to last?!" Kevin shouted. "He only slept with you to humiliate me. That's all this ever was."

Dante didn't turn. "Leave, Kevin."

"You don't order me around."

"I just did."

Then Dante looked only at me again, as if Kevin had already ceased to matter.

“Since you rejected your old job and your old engagement,” he said in a calm and clear voice, “would you turn this scandal into a choice no one can undo?”

I held his gaze, the answer already on my lips.