The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 74

Chapter 67 Frapped

+25 Points

Chapter 67: Trapped

Bella POV

The board meeting was a battlefield disguised as a conference room.

I arrived at Black Tower in the car Caleb sent, dressed in a burgundy power suit with my armor fully in place. The building was exactly as I remembered, all glass and steel and intimidation, designed to make visitors feel small.

I wasn’t a visitor anymore. I was an equal.

Caleb met me in the lobby, looking devastating in a charcoal three-piece suit that probably cost more than some people’s cars. His eyes’swept over me in a way that felt like a physical touch.

“You look ready for war,” he said.

“I’m always ready for war.” I adjusted my portfolio. “Shall we?”

The elevator ride to the 40th floor was silent, both of us reviewing notes on our phones. The doors opened to reveal a sleek reception area where Caleb’s assistant Lisa waited.

“Ms. Hart, Mr. Black, the board is assembled. They’re ready when you are.”

We walked into the conference room side by side and twelve pairs of eyes turned to assess us. I recognized most of them, old money and new, sharks who’d eat you alive if you showed weakness.

“Gentlemen, thank you for making time.” Caleb took his seat at the head of the table, gesturing for me to take the seat to his right, a position of honor that didn’t go unnoticed. “I believe you all know Bella Hart, CEO of Hart Worldwide.”

“Ms. Hart.” James Walsh, Black Enterprise’s CFO, nodded with barely concealed skepticism. “We’re eager to hear how this partnership benefits our shareholders.”

Translation: prove you’re not just here because you have Caleb’s kid.

“Then let’s begin.” I opened my presentation, signaling Lisa to dim the lights. “The Meridian acquisition represents a $2.3 billion opportunity to dominate emerging markets in Southeast Asia.”

For the next hour, Caleb and I tag-teamed the presentation. He handled the financial projections and risk assessment while I covered market analysis and implementation strategy. We moved like we’d been doing this for years, anticipating each other’s points, building on each other’s arguments.

“The synergy between Black Enterprises’ infrastructure and Hart Worldwide’s market penetration is undeniable,” I said, pulling up comparative data. “Separately, we’d each capture 15-20% market share. Together, we’re looking at 45-50% within eighteen months.”

“That’s aggressive,” Walsh said.

“That’s accurate,” I countered. “I’ve built three companies from the ground up in emerging markets. I know how to move fast and secure position before competitors adapt.”

“Ms. Hart’s track record speaks for itself,” Caleb added smoothly. “Her Singapore expansion exceeded

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Chapter 62 Trapped

projections by 30% in year one.”

+25 Points

The way he backed me up, publicly acknowledged my expertise, was strategic but it still affected me in ways I didn’t want to examine.

The board grilled us for another ninety minutes. Every question, every concern, every attempt to find weakness was met with data, strategy, and united front. By the time we wrapped up, even Walsh looked grudgingly impressed.

“The board will vote within 48 hours,” he said as everyone gathered their materials. “Assuming approval, when do you want to announce?”

“Wednesday’s press conference,” Caleb said. “We’ll announce the partnership and field questions about the collaboration.”

“And the personal situation?” This from Patricia Kim, the only woman on the board besides me.

“What about it?” I met her eyes levelly.

“The media is having a field day with your family drama, Ms. Hart. How do we ensure that doesn’t impact the business relationship?”

“By focusing on business,” I said coldly. “My personal life is irrelevant to my ability to execute a market strategy.”

“Is it?” She leaned forward. “Because from where I’m sitting, your ex-sister and father are filing lawsuits claiming you’re an unfit mother. That’s a liability.”

The room went silent. Every eye on me, waiting to see if I’d crack.

“My family’s baseless accusations are being handled by legal counsel,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “And they have no bearing on my professional capabilities or this partnership.”

“Bella’s right,” Caleb said, his voice carrying an edge of warning. “Her personal legal matters are not this board’s concern. Our only concern is whether this deal is profitable, and the data shows it is.”

Patricia backed down but I could see the speculation in everyone’s eyes. They were wondering about us, about Tom, about whether mixing business with our complicated personal situation was wise.

“If there are no other questions,” Caleb stood, effectively ending the meeting. “We’ll be in touch regarding

the vote.”

The board filed out, some pausing to shake hands and make small talk. Walsh stopped beside me.

“Impressive presentation, Ms. Hart. I can see why your company has been so successful.”

“Thank you.” I kept my tone neutral.

“Just a word of advice,” he lowered his voice. “Be careful mixing business with personal complications. It rarely ends well.”

“I’m aware of the risks, Mr. Walsh.”

He nodded and left, leaving me and Caleb alone in the conference room.

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<Chapter 62 Fripped

“You handled that well,” Caleb said, gathering his materials.

“I’ve faced worse than skeptical board members.”

“I know, but still, standing up to Patricia took guts. She’s terrified most of the executive team.”

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