Claimed by the Crown Heir novel Chapter 63

Half an hour later, Vanessa pulled into Vittini's open-air parking lot.

The moment she stepped into the corporate lobby, a man in a crisp suit approached her, his company lanyard clearly visible.

Vanessa took discreet note of it.

Executive Assistant to the CEO: Alan.

"Are you Ms. Vanessa Grant?"

"I am."

"I'm Elena's assistant, Alan. The CEO sent me to receive you. Right this way, please." He gestured politely, his tone courteous.

Vanessa followed him into the private executive elevator. After Alan swiped his access card, the car glided upward, coming to a smooth halt at the top floor.

Walking down the wide, quiet corridor, they ran straight into Valen and Giselle. By now, Giselle had lost every ounce of her morning smugness. Her face was taut, her features twisted with poorly veiled, furious resentment.

The second she spotted Vanessa, her brows snapped together, and her voice dripped with shock and rage.

"Vanessa, what the hell are you doing here!"

Vanessa paused, lifting her eyes with a serene expression.

"I'm here for the exact same reason you are."

"Impossible!" Giselle lunged forward and grabbed her arm, her manicured nails digging painfully into Vanessa's skin, pure venom swirling in her eyes. "Did you set me up?"

She had walked in thinking victory was guaranteed. But moments ago, when she finally met Elena, the CEO had skimmed her proposal and dismissed it with a brutal critique—flashy, hollow, and entirely impractical.

Vanessa frowned, effortlessly shaking off her grip, her tone ice-cold.

"Giselle, stop blaming everyone else for your own failures. Instead of throwing a hysterical tantrum here, you'd be better off reflecting on your own incompetence."

With that, she smiled faintly and shifted her gaze to the man standing beside Giselle.

"Isn't that right, Mr. Valen?"

Valen's expression was currently atrocious. He had just endured a scathing reprimand from Elena. If he hadn't been cajoled into this by a friend, he never would have taken on such a thankless, miserable task.

Meanwhile, inside Elena's office.

Elena gestured for Vanessa to take a seat, and Alan respectfully handed over the prepared contracts.

"Your sister was just here. I imagine you bumped into each other," Elena started, her tone even.

Vanessa nodded. "Yes."

"I reviewed her proposal. It looked pretty on the surface, but it was hollow and impossible to execute. Compared to yours, it wasn't even in the same league. I already declined to sign with her, and she didn't seem too happy about it."

Vanessa leaned forward slightly, her tone gracious.

"I apologize. Giselle has been spoiled by our family since childhood. She's always had things her way and hasn't faced much adversity, which makes her a bit entitled. If she was rude to you just now, I apologize on her behalf."

"You don't need to apologize. This isn't your fault."

Elena waved it off and pushed the signed contract across the desk. "Look over the terms. If everything meets your expectations, we'll finalize the partnership today."