Astrid stepped out of the elevator and onto the plush carpet of Royal Groups' headquarters. She was immediately struck by the opulence that surrounded her - the marble columns, the crystal chandeliers, and the sleek, modern artwork that adorned the walls.

As she made her way to Orion's office, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She had been preparing for this meeting for weeks, but she still wasn't sure what to expect.

Sophia, Orion's assistant, greeted her warmly and led her to the office. Astrid's eyes widened as she took in the stunning view of the city skyline.

Orion himself stood behind his desk, a tall, imposing figure with a commanding presence. He smiled as Astrid approached, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Welcome, Ms. Astrid," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I trust you're enjoying the view?"

Astrid's eyes narrowed. "I'm here to discuss the merger, Mr. Orion. Not to admire the view."

Orion's smile grew wider. "Of course, Ms. Astrid. By all means, let's get down to business."

He gestured to a chair in front of his desk, and Astrid sat down, her eyes locked on his.

"So, Ms. Astrid," Orion began, "I trust you've had a chance to review the revised merger terms?"

Astrid nodded, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "I have. And I must say, I'm not impressed."

Orion's smile was unperturbed. "I'm sorry to hear that. But I'm afraid the terms are non-negotiable."

Astrid's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that."

The two of them went back and forth, each trying to outmaneuver the other. Orion was slick and charming, but Astrid was determined and sharp.

As the meeting wore on, Astrid found herself growing more and more frustrated. Orion seemed to be enjoying himself, but she was getting nowhere.

Just when she thought she was about to lose her cool, Astrid remembered the words of her mentor: "In business, you have to be willing to get your hands dirty."

She took a deep breath and leaned forward, her eyes locked on Orion's. "Let's cut to the chase, Mr. Orion," she said, her voice firm. "What do you really want?"

Orion's smile faltered for a moment, and Astrid saw a glimmer of surprise in his eyes. But then he regained his composure, and his smile returned.

"I want what's best for Royal Groups," he said, his voice smooth. "And I think this merger is the key to that."

Astrid raised an eyebrow. "At any cost?"

Orion's eyes glinted with amusement. "At any cost."

The meeting continued, with Astrid and Orion engaging in a battle of wits. But as the hours ticked by, Astrid began to realize that she was in over her head.

Orion was a formidable opponent, and she was starting to wonder if she had what it took to come out on top.

As the meeting finally drew to a close, Astrid felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had survived the first round, but she knew that the real battle was only just beginning.

"I'll have my assistant send over the paperwork," Orion said, his voice dripping with triumph.

Astrid nodded, her eyes flashing with anger. "I'll be waiting."

And with that, the meeting was over.

As Astrid walked out of the Royal Groups' headquarters, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she had just been outmaneuvered by Orion. She felt a sense of unease, wondering what other tricks he had up his sleeve.

She decided to clear her head by taking a walk in the park. The fresh air and sunshine seemed to lift her spirits, and she began to think more clearly about her next move.

As she walked, she stumbled upon a small café and decided to grab a cup of coffee. Sitting down at a table, she pulled out her phone and began to scroll through her emails.

That's when she saw it - an email from an unknown sender, with a cryptic message that read: "Be careful, Astrid. Orion is not what he seems."

Astrid's heart skipped a beat as she read the message. Who could have sent it? And what did they mean?

She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that she was in deeper than she had thought. But she was determined to get to the bottom of things, no matter what it took.

Astrid's mind was racing with questions. Who could have sent the email? And what did they mean by "Orion is not what he seems"?

She tried to brush it off as a prank, but the words kept echoing in her mind. She couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Orion than met the eye.

As she finished her coffee, Astrid decided to do some digging. She pulled out her phone and started searching for any information she could find on Orion and Royal Groups.

After hours of research, Astrid had found some interesting information. It seemed that Royal Groups was involved in some shady dealings, and Orion's name kept popping up in connection with some of the company's more questionable activities.

Astrid's eyes widened as she read through the articles and reports. She had had no idea that Royal Groups was involved in such shady business.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Rachel.

"Hey girl, what's up?" Rachel asked.

Astrid hesitated for a moment before deciding to confide in her friend. "I just found out some pretty shady stuff about Royal Groups," she said.

Rachel's tone turned serious. "What kind of stuff?"

Astrid took a deep breath before launching into a detailed explanation of what she had found.

As she finished her story, Rachel's voice was firm. "Astrid, you need to be careful. If Royal Groups is involved in some shady dealings, you don't want to get on their bad side."

Astrid nodded, even though Rachel couldn't see her. "I know. But I'm not going to back down. I need to know what's really going on."

Rachel's voice was supportive. "I've got your back, girl. Let's dig deeper and see what we can find."

And with that, Astrid and Rachel formed a plan to investigate Royal Groups and uncover the truth.