Eliza had never felt so exposed in her life. The meeting with Dominic Ward had left her reeling, but she knew there was no time to dwell on it. She had a company to protect, and her own career was on the line. The reality of the acquisition was settling in—there was no escaping it now.
Back in her office, Eliza sat at her desk, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she stared at the marketing projections she had prepared. The numbers were good. The campaign they were about to launch could potentially change everything for Montmore Tech—but with Dominic's shadow looming over it all, nothing seemed certain anymor
She had always prided herself on her ability to control the narrative, to create a vision and sell it with conviction. But in the face of Ward Enterprises, she wasn't sure her own determination would be enough. Dominic didn't just buy companies—he reshaped them in his image. What if he saw her vision for the company as nothing more than a stepping stone? A small piece in his grand desig
Her phone buzzed on the desk, breaking her train of thought. The message was from James, her assistan
"Meeting with Dominic at 3 PM. You're presenting the campaign. Don't forget to bring your A-game
Eliza's heart skipped a beat. She had been preparing for this presentation for weeks, but now that she knew Dominic would be in the room, it felt like everything was on the lin
She stood up, pacing the length of her office, trying to calm her nerves. There was no way she could back out of this. No way she could let him see her falter. This campaign was hers. She had worked for this moment her whole lif
She smoothed down the front of her jacket, checking her reflection in the glass wall. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to imagine a world where things were different. A world where Montmore Tech was still her company, where Dominic Ward had never come into the picture. But that was a fantas
Focus, Eliz
She picked up her tablet and began reviewing the final details of the campaign once more. She had to impress him. She had to make him see that she knew what she was doin
At exactly 3 PM, she walked into the conference room, where the board members were already gathered. Their eyes flicked toward her as she took her seat at the head of the table. Dominic was seated at the far end, his presence commanding the room. He didn't look up as she entered, his eyes fixed on the presentation deck in front of hi
She cleared her throat before clicking the remote to start the presentatio
"Thank you all for joining me today," Eliza began, her voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through her. "What I have here is not just a marketing campaign. It's an opportunity to position Montmore Tech as a leader in innovation, not just a player in the market
She flipped through the slides, detailing the marketing strategies, the branding, and the consumer outreach plan. She spoke confidently, her voice strong, but as she looked up at Dominic, she couldn't help but feel the weight of his gaze. His dark eyes were trained on her, studying her every move, every word she spok
"Impressive," Dominic said, his voice cool and detached. "But tell me, Eliza, what makes you think Montmore Tech can compete with the giants in this industry? Companies like Ward Enterprises have far more resources, more influence
Eliza didn't flinch. "It's not just about resources, Dominic. It's about vision. We have a chance to offer something the bigger companies don't: agility, creativity, and a personalized approach to the market. Ward Enterprises may have the resources, but we have something just as valuable—heart
There it was—the challenge she had been expecting. Dominic's lips curled into a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eye
"You think heart will be enough to keep your company afloat in a market driven by numbers and power?" he asked, his voice low but cutting. "I admire your optimism, Eliza, but optimism doesn't pay the bills
Eliza's hands tightened around the edges of the table, but she refused to let the tension show. "Maybe not," she said, her tone sharp. "But it's a hell of a lot better than being cold and calculating. And I'm sure even someone like you would agree that people buy into the idea of something—of a brand that represents something they believe in
For a moment, the room was quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the projector as the next slide loaded. Eliza could feel Dominic's eyes on her, his scrutiny almost palpabl
"You have spirit," Dominic said, his voice still calm, but now with an edge of something else. Something like… respect? Or was it just another form of challenge? "I'll give you that. But if you're going to convince the board that this campaign is worth the investment, you'll need more than spirit. You'll need results
He stood up, straightening his suit jacket. "I'll be watching, Eliza. I suggest you make those results happen
His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. The board members exchanged glances, some nodding in approval, others looking uncertain. But Eliza stood her ground. She knew what she had to d
As Dominic left the room, his presence loomed like a shadow over her. The room seemed to exhale a collective breath, as though they had all been holding it in, waiting for Dominic's approva
"Eliza, that was… bold," one of the board members, a middle-aged man named Thomas, said, breaking the silence. "You've got some guts, I'll give you that
"I don't have time for anything less," Eliza replied, her voice steady, though inside, her heart was racin
Later that night, as she sat at her desk going over her notes, Eliza couldn't help but replay the meeting in her mind. Dominic's presence had been unnerving. The way he challenged her, pushed her, yet seemed intrigued by her spirit—it was as if he were playing some game, testing her at every tur
She shook her head, trying to focus on the task at hand. She couldn't afford to let him distract her, even though every fiber of her being seemed drawn to hi
But as much as she tried to push him from her thoughts, his words stayed with her: I'll be watching, Eliz
a.m.n.g.."l.o.."."e.."."s.."."e.."n.m.g.a.y.e.e.."t:n?e.ts, his words stayed with her: I'll be watching, Eliza.