The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19 The tien Empress2

Chapter 19: The Iron Empress2

Bella POV

+25 Points

The International Business Summit was being held at the at a grand Hotel, a gleaming palace of marble and glass where I’d once cleaned toilets during my desperate days at the shelter. The irony wasn’t lost on me as my driver pulled up to the VIP entrance and hotel staff rushed to open my door.

“Welcome to our hotel, Ms. Hart,” the concierge said with a practiced smile. “We’re honored to host Hart Worldwide’s CEO.”

I stepped out in a tailored emerald suit, my heels clicking against marble floors I’d once scrubbed on my hands and knees. A few staff members glanced at me, and I wondered if any of them rernembered the pregnant cleaning girl who’d worked the night shift years ago.

Probably not. That girl had been invisible, designed to be overlooked and forgotten but I wasn’t invisible

anymore.

“Ms. Hart, your keynote is scheduled for 2 PM in the Grand Ballroom,” my PR director, Jennifer, said as we walked through the lobby. “Print and digital media will be present, and we’re expecting live coverage from three business networks. Your speech is loaded on the teleprompter, but I have printed copies as backup.”

“I won’t need them.” I’d memorized every word, practiced every pause and emphasis until the speech felt like a weapon I could wield with precision. “What about the attendee list? Any last-minute changes?”

Jennifer pulled up her tablet and scrolled through names. “Everyone confirmed except for two representatives from the Asian markets who had visa issues. Black Enterprises has a full contingent attending, including”

“Including Caleb Black himself,” I finished, my voice steady despite my racing heart. “I saw the list.”

“Do you want us to arrange separate seating? We can make sure you don’t have to interact.”

“No.” I stopped walking and met her concerned gaze. “I’m not hiding from anyone. If Caleb Black wants to attend my keynote speech, let him. I have nothing to hide.”

That was a lie. I had Tom, hidden away safely with Angela at the penthouse, my greatest secret and my greatest vulnerability. But Caleb didn’t know about him, didn’t know his son existed and was three years old with his father’s eyes and his mother’s determination. And I planned to keep it that way for as long as possible.

The morning sessions dragged on with panel discussions about global markets and investment strategies. I sat in the audience, nodding politely while my mind raced through worst-case scenarios. What if I saw Caleb and froze? What if the sight of him brought back all the terror and pain from that night? What if I fell apart in front of hundreds of people and proved that I was still that broken girl underneath the expensive suit?

“Bella.” A hand touched my shoulder, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned to find Ethan Pierce smiling down at me, warm and genuine in a way that immediately put me on edge. “I thought that was you. How have you been?”

Ethan Pierce, CEO of Pierce Technologies, a self-made billionaire who’d been trying to get me to partner

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<Chapter 19 Heren Empress2

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with him for the past few months. He was handsome in an approachable way, with sandy brown hair and eyes that crinkled when he smiled. Everything about him screamed safe choice, and I’d been carefully keeping him at arm’s length since we met at a Singapore conference.

“Ethan.” I stood and shook his hand, professional but distant. “I’ve been busy. Hart Worldwide is expanding into North America.”

“I heard. Silverton is lucky to have you.” He gestured to the empty seat beside me. “Mind if I sit? This panel is putting me to sleep.”

I wanted to say yes, I did mind, but that would be rude and unprofessional. “Of course.”

He settled in beside me, close enough that I could smell his cologne, something clean and understated. “So, Silverton. That’s a bold move, opening an office in Caleb Black’s territory. Are you trying to start a

war?”

“I’m trying to build a business.” I kept my eyes on the stage where someone was droning on about emerging markets. “If Caleb Black sees that as a threat, that’s his problem.”

“You know he’s here, right? At the summit?” Ethan’s voice dropped lower. “I saw him in the VIP lounge this morning. He looked like he’d seen a ghost when they announced you’d be giving the keynote.”

My stomach clenched, but I kept my face neutral. “Did he?”

“Bella, I don’t know what history you have with Black, but be careful.” Ethan’s hand found mine, warm and concerned. “He’s dangerous when he wants something, and the way he was staring at your name on that program… he wants something.”

I pulled my hand away gently but firmly. “I can handle Caleb Black.”

“I’m sure you can.” Ethan leaned back, studying me with those kind eyes. “But you don’t have to handle him alone. Hart Worldwide and Pierce Technologies would make an incredible partnership. We could dominate the North American market together.”

“Is that a business proposal or something else?” I asked bluntly.

He smiled, not at all offended by my directness. “Can’t it be both? I think you’re brilliant, Bella. I think we’d work well together in more ways than one. But I’m patient. I can wait for you to see it too.”

Before I could respond, the panel ended and people started moving toward the Grand Ballroom for lunch. and the afternoon keynotes. I stood quickly, putting distance between myself and Ethan’s gentle persistence.

“I need to prepare for my speech,” I said. “But thank you for the offer. I’ll consider it.”

“That’s all I ask.” He touched my arm briefly, then disappeared into the crowd.

I made my way to the private speaker’s lounge, my heart pounding so hard I thought everyone could hear it. In thirty minutes, I’d be on that stage. In thirty minutes, I’d be facing the moment I’d been building toward for years.

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