The room was silent, save for the soft shuffle of papers as Isabella flipped through her presentation slides. Across from her, Alexander Blackwood sat like a king on his throne—casual, confident, and completely unreadable.
The other executives watched with measured interest, but Isabella knew none of them mattered right now. This was a battle between her and him.
She took a deep breath, pressing the remote to display her first slide.
"Blackwood Enterprises has a strong foothold in the North American market, but your recent expansion efforts in Europe have been met with resistance due to cultural and operational differences." She glanced up, making direct eye contact with Alexander. "Your previous strategies failed because they lacked adaptability. That's where I come in."
Alexander tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Interesting theory, Miss Carter. But I don't deal in theories—I deal in numbers. Where's your proof?"
Isabella's lips curled into a knowing smile. She had been expecting this.
She clicked to the next slide, revealing a detailed breakdown of market trends, competitor analysis, and projected revenue growth. Solid, irrefutable data.
"The European market isn't rejecting Blackwood Enterprises," she explained smoothly. "They're rejecting the rigid, one-size-fits-all approach you've been using. If you want dominance, you need a localized strategy—one that speaks to the cultural and economic nuances of each region."
A flicker of something—approval, perhaps?—passed through Alexander's icy blue eyes, but it was gone before she could be sure.
"Your analysis is thorough," he admitted, tapping a finger against the table. "But you're assuming I want localized control when I could just acquire existing businesses and force them to adapt to me."
A murmur ran through the room. Some executives nodded in agreement.
Isabella, however, wasn't impressed.
She leaned forward slightly, eyes locked onto his. "That's a short-term fix. Buying smaller companies may give you instant control, but if they resist, you'll bleed money trying to force compliance. Why waste millions when you can integrate strategically and have them follow you willingly?"
Silence.
For the first time, Alexander hesitated. He studied her as if reassessing her entirely.
Then, he smirked.
"Bold," he said, fingers tapping against the table. "You walk into my company and tell me I've been doing it wrong all this time?"
Isabella lifted her chin. "I walked into your company to make it better."
A slow, dangerous smile spread across his lips. "I like confidence, Miss Carter. But let's get one thing straight." He leaned forward now, mirroring her stance. "I don't lose. Ever."
Neither do I, Isabella thought.
Instead, she simply smiled back. "Then I suppose this just got interesting."
Their war had officially begun.