POV- Catriona
The boardroom at Reid Capital was designed to intimidate.
A long obsidian table stretched across the center of the room, surrounded by leather chairs that had witnessed decades of billion-dollar decisions. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the skyline beyond, but today no one was looking at the view.
Every seat was filled.
The Zurich acquisition had drawn the full board.
I sat two seats away from Shawn Reid, a stack of legal documents neatly arranged in front of me. My tablet displayed the financial projections I had prepared earlier that morning.
Across the table sat Charles Laurent.
Calm.
Confident.
Watching.
The meeting had been underway for nearly twenty minutes.
Senior partners had already spoken. Analysts had presented the projected returns. Questions had been raised about market timing and debt exposure.
Now the discussion had reached the most important point.
Control.
"Zurich represents a strategic expansion into European private equity," Shawn said evenly, his voice carrying easily across the room.
"If executed properly, it positions Reid Capital ahead of every competing firm within the next five years."
Several board members nodded.
Charles leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Provided," he said smoothly, "the risk structure holds."
Shawn didn't react.
"The structure will hold."
Charles folded his hands on the table.
"I'm not questioning the strategy," he continued.
"Only the speed at which it's being implemented."
A few directors shifted thoughtfully.
Charles turned slightly in his chair.
"And I believe Miss Agreste has been closely involved in the legal structure of this deal."
Every eye in the room moved toward me.
I kept my posture straight.
"Yes."
Charles smiled faintly.
"For someone who joined this company as a first-year law student, your influence over such a major acquisition is… impressive."
There was nothing overtly hostile in his tone.
But the implication was clear.
Why did a young lawyer hold this much authority?
I met his gaze calmly.
"My role is to evaluate the legal framework of the transaction."
"And you're confident in it?"
"Yes."
Charles tilted his head slightly.
"Even with the accelerated timeline Mr. Reid prefers?"
"Yes."
He paused.
Then leaned forward slightly.
"Interesting."
The room was quiet.
Charles's eyes moved briefly toward Shawn before returning to me.
"Forgive my curiosity," he said lightly.
"But some board members may wonder whether your judgment might be… influenced."
The word landed like a stone in water.
Small.
But capable of creating ripples.
No one spoke.
Charles continued smoothly.
"After all, working closely with the CEO can create… certain professional loyalties."
There it was.
Not an accusation.
Not yet.
But a carefully placed suggestion.
I heard the subtle shift in the room's atmosphere.
The board was watching me now.
Evaluating.
Waiting.
Shawn remained completely still beside me.
He wasn't going to intervene.
This was my move.
Good.
I slowly slid one of the legal documents across the table.
"Mr. Laurent," I said calmly.
"You're correct that loyalty can influence judgment."
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"But legal liability cannot."
Several board members leaned closer to read the document.
"This," I continued, "is the revised debt structure for the Zurich acquisition."
I tapped the highlighted section.
"It removes the exposure you referenced earlier."
Charles glanced at the paper.
One of the senior directors spoke.
"This reduces the risk by nearly forty percent."
"Yes," I said.
Charles's expression remained composed.
"But the timeline—"
"Is now legally protected," I finished.
Another board member nodded.
"Well done."
Charles leaned back again.
The faintest flicker of irritation crossed his eyes.
Shawn finally spoke.
"Any further concerns?"
No one answered.
Charles studied me for a moment longer.
Then he smiled slightly.
"None."
The board chairman cleared his throat.
"Very well. Let's move to the vote."
The Zurich acquisition passed.
Not unanimously.
But decisively.
When the meeting finally ended, directors began gathering their files and leaving the room.
Charles lingered near the far end of the table.
As I collected my documents, he approached.
"Miss Agreste."
I looked up.
"You handled yourself well," he said.
"Thank you."
He studied me for a moment.
"You're very loyal to Mr. Reid."
I held his gaze.
"I'm loyal to the company."
Charles smiled faintly.
"Yes," he said.
"I'm sure you are."
Then he walked out.
A few minutes later the boardroom was nearly empty.
Only Shawn and I remained.
The door closed behind the last director.
For several seconds neither of us spoke.
Then Shawn finally exhaled.
"You handled that perfectly."
I set the documents down.
"He was testing the board's reaction."
"And you shut it down."
I turned to face him fully.
"You were going to let him question me."
His expression was calm.
"Yes."
"You trusted I could handle it."
"I knew you could."
The certainty in his voice sent a small surge of warmth through me.
But the tension between us hadn't disappeared.
If anything, it had intensified.
Because Charles had come very close to exposing something dangerous.
Shawn stepped closer.
"Catriona."
His voice was quieter now.
"What you did in there protected more than the deal."
"I know."
The distance between us had shrunk again.
The same charged silence from last night returned.
"You're becoming indispensable to this company," he said.
I looked up at him.
"Is that a compliment?"
"It's a fact."
His hand brushed lightly against the edge of the table beside me.
Close enough that I could feel the warmth of him.
"Do you trust me?" he asked suddenly.
The question surprised me.
"Yes."
"Even when things become complicated?"
I held his gaze.
"Yes."
Something in his expression softened.
Then his voice lowered slightly.
"Good."
Because the look in his eyes suggested that whatever came next—
Our situation was about to become far more complicated.