Diane’s POV
The afternoon sun stread through Joan’s living room windows, casting long shadows across the papers scattered on the coffee table. I’d been working for hours, researching everything I could find about Elite Group—their investnt portfolio, their corporate values, their past partnerships. If I was going to convince them to partner with Synergy Sphere, I needed to understand exactly what would appeal to them.
"Their ESG scores are impressive," I said, tapping my pen against the notepad in my lap. "They clearly prioritize sustainable investnts."
Joan nodded, pushing her reading glasses up her nose as she scrolled through her laptop. "And they’ve been moving aggressively into construction and real estate tech over the past three years. Their last five major investnts were all in companies with innovative building solutions."
"Which works in our favor," I said, circling a note I’d made earlier. "Synergy Sphere’s new smart building technology is exactly the kind of construction innovation they seem to value."
"Not to ntion," Joan added, "the PR angle of backing a company with new female leadership after a scandal. It fits their whole ’force for positive change’ branding."
I grimaced slightly. "I’d rather win them on rit than sympathy."
"It’s business, Diane," Joan reminded . "Use every advantage you have."
My back was aching from sitting in the sa position too long. I shifted, trying to find a comfortable position, but the twins seed determined to use my bladder as a trampoline.
"I need to use the bathroom," I announced, struggling to my feet. "These two are playing soccer with my internal organs again."
Joan chuckled. "Need help getting up?"
"I’ve got it," I insisted, waving her off as I waddled toward the hallway.
I had just closed the bathroom door when I heard my phone ring in the living room. Probably Dr. Chen checking concerning update about Liam’s whereabout, or maybe Noah.
"Joan," I called through the door, "can you see who that is?"
"It’s Andrew," Joan called back.
My father. I felt a flutter of anxiety. After what happened with Liam at the warehouse, I’d been avoiding his calls. The mory of what I’d asked him to do—what I’d participated in—still left feeling both powerful and horrified.
"Can you answer it?" I asked. "Tell him I’ll call back in a few minutes."
I heard Joan’s muffled voice as she answered the call. Taking my ti in the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face, studying my reflection in the mirror. The woman looking back at had changed so much in the past months.
When I erged, Joan was still on the phone, and she’d put it on speaker. Andrew’s voice filled the room.
"—just wanted to check in on her," he was saying. "I saw the news about Liam and wanted to make sure she’s okay."
"She’s fine," Joan replied, glancing up as I entered the room. "She’s actually busy working on a presentation for the Elite Group."
"Elite Group?" Andrew repeated, his voice suddenly sharper with interest.
I nodded to Joan, indicating she should continue as I eased myself back onto the couch, gathering my scattered notes.
"Yes," Joan confird. "Diane needs to secure this contract for Synergy Sphere. It could give her the edge she needs to be nad CEO."
There was a pause on the line, a mont of silence that stretched just long enough to be noticeable.
"I see," Andrew finally said, his tone thoughtful. "You know, I might be able to help with that."
Joan’s eyebrows shot up, and she looked at questioningly. I leaned forward, suddenly interested despite my reservations about involving Andrew further in my life.
"What do you an?" Joan asked.
"I have so connections with Elite Group," Andrew explained. "I could pull so strings, arrange a eting with the owner directly instead of going through the usual channels."
My heart skipped a beat. A direct eting with Elite Group’s owner would bypass weeks of preliminary discussions with lower-level executives. It could accelerate everything—if Andrew was telling the truth.
Joan muted the phone and looked at . "Do you want him to do this?"
I hesitated, weighing the offer against my complicated feelings about my father. On one hand, accepting his help ant deepening our connection, giving him the foothold in my life he so desperately wanted. On the other hand, this opportunity could be exactly what I needed to secure my position at Synergy Sphere.
"What would this involve?" I asked, nodding for Joan to unmute the call.
"Just a phone call or two," Andrew replied when Joan unmuted him.
The owner of Elite Group. The reclusive billionaire who rarely took etings personally and whose true identity is unknown. Having his ear would be invaluable.
"That would be... helpful," I admitted, the words feeling strange in my mouth. Accepting help from Andrew still didn’t co naturally.
"Consider it done," Andrew said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "I’ll call him today."
"Thank you," I said, not quite able to infuse the words with warmth, but at least they were sincere.
"There’s sothing else I wanted to discuss," Andrew continued, his tone shifting to sothing more serious. "After what happened to Liam, and especially after the incident where soone pointed a gun at you two, I’ve been concerned about your safety."
Joan and I exchanged glances, the mory of that terrifying mont still fresh.
"What are you suggesting?" Joan asked.
"I’d like to send so security personnel to your house," Andrew said. "Just as a precaution. They’re discreet, highly trained, and they would follow you when you go out as well."
The idea of being watched and followed, even for protection, made uneasy. Yet I couldn’t deny the logic. Whoever had been following us before might still be out there. And if Liam had hired soone to intimidate , that person might still be carrying out orders despite Liam’s current... situation.
"I don’t need bodyguards," I said, my pride speaking before my common sense.
"Diane," Andrew sighed, and I could picture him running a hand through his silver hair in frustration."
"I know you’re capable and strong. But you’re also pregnant with my grand children and potentially in danger. Please, let do this one thing for you. Let protect my daughters."
The sincerity in his voice caught off guard. Daughters—plural. He was thinking of Sophie too.
I felt a complicated twist of emotions at that. Despite everything and her being safe with Andrew, part of still worried about her.
There was an awkward pause on the line. Joan cleared her throat, bringing us back to the topic at hand.
"About the security detail," she prompted.
I considered it for a mont longer before relenting.
"Fine. Send them. But they stay outside the house, and they maintain their distance when following us. I don’t want to feel like I’m under surveillance."
"Agreed," Andrew said, relief evident in his voice. "They’ll be so discreet you’ll hardly notice them."
"And this is temporary," I added firmly. "Just until we’re sure there’s no threat."
"Of course," Andrew agreed readily. "Just until everything settles down."
"Thank you for respecting my boundaries," I said, surprised to find I ant it.
"I’m trying, Diane," he said softly. "I know I have a lot to make up for."
The vulnerability in his voice made sothing shift uncomfortably inside . It was easier to keep Andrew at arm’s length when I thought of him as the man who abandoned us, not as soone genuinely trying to make ands.
"I should let you get back to your work," Andrew continued when I didn’t respond. "I’ll make that call today and let you know when he can et. And the security team will be in place by tonight."
"Alright," I said. "Thank you."
"It’s the least I can do," Andrew replied. "Take care of yourself, Diane."
Joan ended the call, setting my phone back on the coffee table. She turned to with raised eyebrows. "Well, that was unexpected."
"Very," I agreed, leaning back against the cushions. "Do you think he really knows the owr of Elite Group?"
Joan shrugged. "One way to find out. If you get a eting, then he was telling the truth."
I nodded, gathering my notes back into a semblance of order. "And what do you think about the security?"
"I think it’s a good idea," Joan said firmly. "After everything that’s happened, better safe than sorry."
She was right, of course. With Liam in the hospital, his mysterious associates might be even more desperate—and dangerous. And despite the poetic justice of Liam’s current predicant, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there would be consequences for what had happened at the warehouse.
"I should call Dr. Chen," I said, changing the subject. "Get update on Liam’s whereabout and condition."
Joan’s expression turned skeptical. "Why?
I sighed, rubbing my belly absently as one of the twins delivered a particularly enthusiastic kick. "Because as much as I hate him and wish he’s dead and gone, I need to know what’s happening. Knowledge is power, Joan. And right now, I need all the power I can get."
Joan nodded slowly. "Fair enough. But first, let’s finish outlining this presentation. If Andrew cos through with that eting, we need to be ready."
I pulled my laptop closer, pushing thoughts of Liam and Andrew to the back of my mind. The path to becoming CEO of Synergy Sphere was clear before now, and I couldn’t afford distractions.
For now, Elite Group was my focus. I needed to showcase how our construction innovations and building technologies could align perfectly with their investnt goals.
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