Sophia felt a chill run down her spine at the sound of his voice. It was calm, controlled—just like her own—but she could sense the underlying tension, the way he was masking whatever emotions he might be feeling. She had spent years imagining this moment, but now that it was here, she found herself caught off guard by the reality of it.
"Mr. Blackwood," she replied, her tone equally cool as she stepped further into the room. "I wasn't sure you'd remember me."
Ethan turned then, and as their eyes met, Sophia felt her breath catch in her throat. His eyes were the same piercing blue she remembered, but they were darker now, more guarded. For a moment, she saw a flicker of recognition, a brief flash of something that might have been regret or guilt, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
"Of course I remember you," he said, setting his glass down on the desk. "How could I forget?"
There was a slight edge to his words, a hint of something deeper that made Sophia's blood run faster. She couldn't tell if it was anger, resentment, or something else entirely, but she knew one thing for certain—this man was not the same Ethan Blackwood she had known all those years ago.
"I'm sure you've heard about the merger," she said, keeping her tone businesslike, even though her heart was pounding in her chest. "I'm here to ensure it goes smoothly."
Ethan studied her for a long moment, his gaze intense, as if he were trying to see beneath the polished exterior she presented to the world. "The merger," he repeated, his voice low. "Is that really why you're here?"
Sophia met his gaze without flinching, refusing to let him see how much his words affected her. "It's the reason I'm here today," she said evenly. "But we both know there's more to it than that."
A flicker of something—recognition, perhaps—passed across Ethan's face, but he quickly masked it, his expression once again unreadable. "I see," he said slowly, his voice devoid of emotion. "Well, I'm glad you've decided to take a hands-on approach. I've been looking forward to this."
His words were polite, but there was an undercurrent of tension that sent a shiver down Sophia's spine. She couldn't tell if he was genuinely welcoming her or if he was playing a game, testing her resolve. Either way, she wasn't about to back down.
"I believe it's important to be involved in these matters personally," she replied, matching his tone. "Especially when the stakes are so high."
Ethan's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Indeed. And the stakes have never been higher, have they?"
Did he know? Could he possibly have guessed the true reason she had orchestrated this merger? As she looked into Ethan's eyes, she couldn't shake the feeling that he saw right through her.
She forced herself to remain calm, to keep her composure. "No, they haven't," she agreed, her voice steady. "Which is why I'm here. I want to make sure everything goes according to plan."
Ethan nodded slowly as if he were considering her words. "Of course. And I assure you, Ms. Grey, that I'll do everything in my power to ensure that it does."
There was something in the way he said her name that made Sophia's pulse quicken. It was the first time he had addressed her directly, and there was an almost intimate quality to it, as if they were the only two people in the world who mattered.
"Good," she said, her voice firm. "Because I won't tolerate anything less than perfection." Ethan's smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I wouldn't expect you to."
Sophia held his gaze for a moment longer before finally breaking eye contact, turning her attention to the documents she had brought with her. She reached into her bag, pulling out a folder and placing it on the desk between them. "These are the preliminary terms of the merger," she said, sliding the folder toward him. "I trust you'll find them satisfactory."
Ethan picked up the folder, flipping through the pages with a practiced ease. He didn't say anything as he read, but Sophia could see the slight furrow in his brow, the way his eyes narrowed as he absorbed the information. She had spent weeks preparing these documents, ensuring that every detail was meticulously crafted to serve her agenda. But as she watched him read, she couldn't help but feel a pang of unease.
Finally, he looked up, his expression thoughtful. "This is… comprehensive," he said slowly, setting the folder down. "But I can't help but wonder if there's something you're not telling me."
Sophia's heart skipped a beat. She had expected him to be thorough, to scrutinize every detail, but she hadn't anticipated this level of suspicion so early in the game. She needed to be careful, to tread lightly. "I've been very transparent in these negotiations, Mr. Blackwood," she said, keeping her tone measured. "If there's anything specific you'd like to discuss, I'm more than happy to address it."
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were trying to gauge her sincerity. "I'm sure you have," he said, his voice low. "But I've learned that in this business, there's always something beneath the surface. A hidden motive, a secret agenda. I just want to make sure we're both on the same page."
Sophia forced herself to remain calm, even as her mind raced. He was testing her, probing for weaknesses, trying to see if she would crack under pressure.
"We are," she said firmly, meeting his gaze head-on. "My goal is to make this merger as smooth and profitable as possible for both parties. That's all."
Ethan studied her for a long moment, his eyes boring into hers, searching for any sign of deceit. But Sophia held her ground, refusing to let him see the storm of emotions raging inside her. Finally, he nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Very well," he said, his tone lightening. "I suppose we'll see how this all plays out."
Sophia allowed herself a small, controlled smile. "Yes, we will."
They were playing a dangerous game, both of them. But she had the advantage—at least, that's what she kept telling herself. She knew the Blackwoods better than they knew her, knew their weaknesses, their blind spots. She had spent years studying them, learning everything she could about the family that had destroyed hers. And now, she was ready to use that knowledge to bring them down.
Ethan picked up his glass of whiskey, taking a slow sip as he watched her. "You've changed, Sophia," he said quietly, his voice almost contemplative. "You're not the same girl I remember."
The unexpected use of her first name made Sophia's heart skip a beat. There was a familiarity in the way he said it, a reminder of the past that she had tried so hard to bury. But she quickly pushed those feelings aside, reminding herself of who he was and what he had done.
"People change," she replied evenly, her voice betraying nothing. "Especially when they've been through what I have."
Ethan's expression darkened, a flicker of something that might have been regret passing over his face. "Yes, I suppose they do."
For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. There was so much she wanted to say, so much she wanted to confront him about. But now wasn't the time. She needed to stay focused, to keep her emotions in check.
"I've learned a lot over the years," she continued, her tone calm and controlled. "And I've come to understand that the only way to survive in this world is to be stronger than those who try to bring you down."
Ethan nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. "That's a lesson I've had to learn myself."
Sophia felt a pang of something she couldn't quite identify—sympathy, perhaps, or a fleeting connection to the man standing before her.
"Then you'll understand why I'm so determined to make this merger a success," she said, her voice firm. "Failure isn't an option for me, Mr. Blackwood. I won't let anything stand in my way."
Ethan's expression softened, just slightly, as if he were seeing a side of her he hadn't expected. "Nor will I," he said quietly, his tone laced with a hint of admiration. "But I have a feeling this won't be as straightforward as either of us would like."
He was right—nothing about this was straightforward.
"We'll just have to see, won't we?" she replied, her voice steady.
Ethan held her gaze for a moment longer before finally nodding. "Yes, we will."
As the conversation came to an end, Sophia felt a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her—relief, tension, and a lingering sense of unease. There was something about Ethan Blackwood that unsettled her, something that made her question her resolve.
But she quickly pushed those doubts aside. She had come too far, sacrificed too much, to let anything stand in her way now. As she turned to leave the study, Ethan's voice stopped her in her tracks. "Sophia."
She paused, her hand on the door handle, but didn't turn around. "Yes?"
"Be careful," he said softly, his tone almost gentle. "This path you're on—it's dangerous. And once you start down it, there's no turning back."
Sophia's grip tightened, her resolve hardening. "I know," she said, her voice cold. "And I'm prepared for whatever comes next."
Without waiting for a response, she pushed open the door and stepped out into the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest. The encounter had shaken her more than she cared to admit, but she wouldn't let it deter her. This was her moment, her chance to take back control of her life. And nothing—not even Ethan Blackwood—would stop her.