章節 7: Strategic Moves
The next morning, Mila sat in her sleek, glass-walled office at Morgan Enterprises, preparing for a private business meeting. Her thoughts, however, kept drifting back to the tension at the Merger Gala. Every exchange with Drake had been a game of verbal chess, and while she'd maintained her calm demeanor, the stakes had become clearer: this wasn't just about business. Drake Hawthorne was coming for more than a merger—he was coming for control.
As she sifted through documents, her focus shifted between strategies for the upcoming merger and possible ways to undermine Drake. She needed to be two steps ahead, as always. But despite her calculated nature, Drake had gotten under her skin more than she wanted to admit.
Her train of thought was interrupted when Penny Townsend, her COO and trusted confidante—or so Mila believed—entered the room, holding an agenda for the upcoming board meeting. Penny, ever watchful, tried to gauge Mila's mood as she approached, wearing the mask of loyalty that had shielded her betrayal for months.
"You seemed… tense at the gala," Penny remarked carefully, placing the agenda on Mila's desk. Her voice was soft, nonchalant, but her eyes flickered with curiosity. She watched Mila closely, searching for cracks in the armor.
Mila glanced up, her expression unreadable. "He didn't get under my skin," she said, her voice sharp and controlled. "But he's made it clear that this isn't just a merger. Drake doesn't want partnership—he wants control."
For a split second, Penny hesitated, a flicker of unease crossing her face. She quickly masked it, but the subtle delay in her response was enough to make her nervous. Mila was always so sure of herself, always in command. If Mila already suspected Drake's true intentions, Penny knew she had to tread carefully.
"So what's the plan?" Penny asked, her tone light but probing. "You're not really going through with this marriage, are you?"
Mila leaned back in her chair, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Oh, I'm going through with it," she replied coolly. "But I'm not the one who's going to lose in this game."
The confidence in Mila's voice sent a chill through Penny. She nodded slowly, masking her concern with a smile before excusing herself from the office. As she left, her mind raced. She had been feeding Drake insider information for months, confident that the advantage would give him the upper hand. But now, she was beginning to doubt the plan. Mila was too confident, too calm. Was Drake underestimating her? Were they both underestimating her?
Penny pushed the thoughts aside, knowing she had a delicate balance to maintain. But as she made her way to her office, the gnawing sense of unease remained.
Meanwhile, in his penthouse office at Hawthorne Industries, Drake sat at his mahogany desk, reviewing the latest financial reports from the upcoming merger. His mind was sharp, his focus unbroken, but something lingered beneath the surface—something that had nothing to do with balance sheets or boardroom politics. He couldn't stop thinking about Mila.
Across the room, Harry Knight, his loyal CFO and closest friend, stood by the window, his arms crossed as he watched Drake in silence. The usually unflappable Drake Hawthorne had been… different, ever since the gala. Distracted, even. And Harry had been around long enough to know that distractions in business were dangerous.
"You seemed… distracted at the gala," Harry remarked, breaking the silence with a rare note of concern in his voice. He wasn't one to offer unsolicited advice, but he couldn't ignore what he'd seen. "I get the sense that this thing with Mila isn't just business anymore."
Drake didn't look up from his papers, his expression hardening. "It's always business, Harry."
Harry raised an eyebrow but said nothing for a moment. He could read Drake like an open book, and he knew better. There was something in the way Drake talked about Mila, something different from the way he treated other competitors. It was subtle, but it was there—the challenge, the attraction, the tension that had always been a step too close to personal.
"If you say so," Harry finally replied, his voice carefully neutral. "But don't let your personal feelings cloud your judgment. You know what happens when emotions get involved."
At that, Drake set the papers down and met Harry's gaze. He knew his friend was right. Business had always come first—above personal desires, above everything. He had never let emotions drive his decisions. And yet, ever since Mila had entered the equation, things felt different. Mila was unlike anyone he had faced before—ruthless, brilliant, and dangerous in ways that intrigued him far more than they should.
But Drake couldn't afford to let it get personal. Not with what was at stake. Not with the merger—and his legacy—on the line.
"I won't," Drake said firmly, his voice hardening with resolve. "This is business. And I intend to win."
Harry studied Drake for a moment, sensing the internal conflict his friend was refusing to acknowledge. But he didn't push. Instead, he offered a slight nod and returned to reviewing the financials. As much as he trusted Drake, the storm brewing between Mila and Drake had the potential to upend everything. And Harry wasn't sure either of them fully realized just how high the stakes had become.
Back at Morgan Enterprises, Mila paced her office, her mind spinning with strategies. She knew Drake was planning something—his ego wouldn't let him back down. But she also knew she had the upper hand, at least for now. And as long as she stayed a step ahead, Drake would never see what was coming.
The game had begun, and both sides were preparing for the next move.
But in a game like this, the rules could change at any moment—and neither Mila nor Drake were prepared for how personal it was about to get.
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