Chapter 122 One Hundred & Twenty Two
Morning came too quickly.
Izzy woke before the alarm.
For a few seconds, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling while the soft grey light of dawn filtered through the curtains.
Then it hit her again.
Dominic.
Today.
She slowly pushed the covers aside and sat up. Beside her, Steven was still asleep, one arm stretched across the bed where she had been.
Izzy quietly slipped out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
Cold water splashed against her face as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
Six years.
And somehow fate had decided to throw them back into the same room again.
“Fantastic,” she muttered under her breath.
By the time she came downstairs, the house was already waking up.
Brian’s laughter echoed faintly from the kitchen.
Izzy paused at the stairs for a moment, her expression softening instantly.
When she entered the kitchen, Brian was sitting at the table in his little pajamas while Steven attempted to make pancakes.
Attempted being the keyword.
“Daddy burned it again!” Brian announced proudly.
Steven looked offended. “It’s not burned. It’s… extra crispy.”
Izzy crossed her arms, smiling. “That pancake is black baby.”
“It’s caramelized,” Steven corrected.
Brian giggled.
Izzy walked over and kissed Brian’s head. “Good morning, troublemaker.”
“Morning, Mommy.”
Steven glanced at her, his eyes searching her face briefly.
“You okay?”
Izzy nodded. “Just a big day.”
Brian swung his legs under the chair. “Youre heading straight to Steele Group?”
“Yes,” she said gently. “Very important meeting.”
Steven slid a plate toward Brian, then leaned closer to Izzy.
“Tough one?”
She nodded.
Steven studied her for a moment before giving a small smile. “You’re going to terrify them.”
Izzy smirked faintly. “That’s the plan.”
An hour later she was dressed.
Sharp black suit. Hair pulled neatly back. Minimal jewelry.
Professional.
Steven walked her to the door as she grabbed her bag.
“You know you don’t have to prove anything to him,” he said quietly.
Izzy looked at him.
“I’m not trying to prove anything,” she replied calmly.
Then she smiled slightly.
“I’m trying to decide if his company is worth a trillion dollars.”
Steven chuckled and kissed her forehead.
“Call me when you’re done.”
“I will.”
Brian ran to the door and hugged her leg. “Bye Mommy!”
She crouched down and hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek.
“Be good for Daddy.”
“I always am!”
Steven raised an eyebrow. “That’s debatable.”
Izzy laughed softly before finally stepping outside.
Her driver was already waiting.
The car ride across the city felt shorter than it should have.
Because the closer they got to the towering glass building ahead…
The tighter something twisted in her chest.
The Steele Group headquarters rose above the surrounding buildings, sleek and powerful.
Izzy stepped out of the car and looked up at it for a moment.
Six years ago she had left this city broken and company.
Today she walked back in as the most powerful investor in the room.
Inside, the receptionist immediately stood.
“Good morning, Mrs. Valenti. We’ve been expecting you.”
“I’m sure you have,” Izzy said calmly.
She was escorted toward the executive floor.
Glass walls.
Quiet hallways.
Employees are moving quickly with tablets and files.
The elevator doors opened.
“Boardroom is right this way,” the assistant said nervously.
Through the glass walls ahead, Izzy could already see them.
Executives are seated around the long table.
Miranda Steele.
Several board members.
And at the head of the table
Dominic.
Waiting.
Izzy walked toward the door without hesitation.
The assistant opened it.
The room fell silent as she stepped inside.
All eyes turned to her.
Izzy placed her folder on the table calmly.
Then she looked directly at Dominic.
“Good morning,” she said coolly.
“Shall we begin?”
The room stayed silent for a moment after Izzy spoke.
Every pair of eyes moved between her and Dominic.
Dominic sat at the head of the long glass table, fingers steepled in front of him, his dark gaze fixed on her like he was trying to read every thought behind her calm expression.
Six years.
And she still walked into a room as if she owned it.
Miranda was the first to speak.
“Mrs. Valenti,” she said stiffly.
Izzy inclined her head slightly. “Yes, Mrs. Steele.”
No warmth.
No hostility.
Just cold professionalism.
Izzy took the empty seat across from Dominic and placed her leather folder neatly on the table. Her assistant set a tablet beside her before quietly stepping back.
Dominic finally spoke.
“Thank you for coming.”
His voice was even, controlled.
Izzy met his gaze without flinching. “You asked me to.”
A few of the board members shifted uncomfortably.
Everyone in the room could feel it...the tension that had nothing to do with business.
Dominic leaned back slightly in his chair.
“Then let’s not waste your time.”
He nodded to the screen behind him.
The lights dimmed slightly as the presentation began.
One of the executives started explaining the Steele Group’s expansion plans... new infrastructure, renewable energy projects, international acquisitions.
Izzy listened quietly.
Too quietly.
She didn’t interrupt.
Didn’t nod.
Didn’t show approval.
She simply watched the numbers and projections like a judge evaluating evidence.
Dominic kept glancing at her.
Trying to read her reaction.
But she gave him nothing.
After twenty minutes, the presentation ended.
The lights came back on.
Silence filled the room again.
Dominic rested his hands on the table.
“Well?” he asked.
Izzy tapped her pen lightly against her folder.
“Your growth projections rely heavily on European logistics,” she said calmly.
“Yes,” Dominic replied.
“Which is interesting,” she continued, “considering three of your proposed ports are currently under regulatory review.”
One of the executives blinked. “Those reviews are temporary.”
“Temporary delays can cost billions,” Izzy replied coolly.
Another board member leaned forward. “Our legal team…”
“Is optimistic,” Izzy finished.
Miranda’s jaw tightened.
Dominic watched her closely.
She hadn’t even opened her folder yet.
“You’ve done your research,” he said.
Izzy finally opened the folder in front of her and slid a document across the table.
“I always do.”
Dominic glanced at the document.
His expression hardened slightly.
“These are alternative expansion routes,” Izzy said. “If you want my investment, you’ll need to pivot your strategy.”
One of the board members frowned. “You’re asking us to redesign our entire plan.”
“I’m asking you to make it profitable.”
Miranda spoke sharply. “The Steele Group has been successful long before you decided to involve yourself.”
Izzy’s gaze shifted to her calmly.
“And yet you still want my money.”
The room went quiet again.
Dominic almost smiled.
He couldn't help but admit her like this version of her..
He leaned forward slightly.
“You said yesterday you were considering an investment of a trillion dollars.”
“Yes.”
“And you expect us to adjust our strategy for that?”
Izzy met his eyes steadily.
“I expect you to convince me your company deserves it.”
Dominic’s voice lowered slightly.
“And if we don’t?”
Izzy closed the folder slowly.
“Then I walk away.”
Simple.
Direct.
Dominic studied her face carefully.
Six years ago she had been the girl standing in his penthouse arguing with him about morals and loyalty.
Now she was sitting across from him controlling the fate of his company.
One of the board members cleared his throat nervously.
“Mrs. Valenti… what exactly are you looking for?”
Izzy folded her hands calmly on the table.
“Leadership.”
Her gaze flicked to Dominic again.
“Stability.”
Another beat of silence.
Then she added,
“And vision.”
Dominic held her gaze.
“You don’t think we have that?”
Izzy tilted her head slightly.
“I think you have potential.”
Miranda scoffed softly.
Izzy’s voice stayed calm.
“But potential isn’t worth a trillion dollars.”
The tension in the room thickened.
Dominic slowly stood from his chair.
Every executive straightened immediately.
He walked around the table toward the screen.
“You want vision?” he said.
Izzy watched him carefully.
Dominic turned to face the room.
“Then let’s talk about the future of the Steele Group.”
His gaze locked with hers again.