Chapter 115 A Blind Date?
Chapter 115 A Blind Date?
Stephanie's POV
My phone buzzed again.
For a second, I was sure it was Karon. But when I glanced at the screen, it was Chloe.
Chloe: [Stephanie! My dad just got home and nearly chewed me out! Said I made such an important friend and didn't even tell him!]
A laugh slipped out before I could stop it.
I texted back: [That's on you for not saying anything.]
Chloe: [Fine, my fault. But you had dinner with all those big names and didn't invite me?!]
I replied: [Your dad was there too. Why didn't you yell at him instead?]
Chloe: [That's different! If I'd known you were going, I'd have been right there with you!]
I texted: [Next time.]
Chloe: [Promise!]
We chatted a bit more before I set the phone aside.
The bathroom was already warm with steam by the time I stepped in. I ran a full tub of hot water and sank into it, letting the heat wrap around me. Outside the wide window, the ocean stretched into the horizon, dark blue under the night sky, the surface catching the shimmer of distant lights.
The tension in my muscles began to melt away... but my mind refused to rest.
The next day, I would be heading to Pack Headquarters. I would be taking over Valerius Pack's operations there and meeting the team from Elite Choice Executive Search Firm.
It was a lot to handle, but I felt ready. Frederick had paved the way, and the elders were on my side. I would not be walking into this alone.
When I was done, I dried off and changed into silk sleepwear. Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts dragging me back to that night's dinner. The elders had been warm, almost indulgent.
But I knew that warmth came from Frederick's shadow over the table. If I wanted to stand on my own in this arena, I couldn't lean on him forever. Connections opened doors... but skill kept them from closing in my face.
I needed to prove I was more than a pretty face with the right last name. I needed them to see me as a leader in my own right.
Somewhere between those thoughts, sleep took me.
The alarm yanked me out of it at seven sharp. I showered, dressed in a fitted black blazer over a crisp white blouse, a pencil skirt, and heels. My hair was pulled into a high ponytail. The woman in the mirror looked sharp, alert, ready for war.
Downstairs, a black Mercedes waited at the curb. The driver, a man in his forties with neat hair and a pressed suit, stepped out the moment he saw me.
"Miss Valerius, good morning," he said with a respectful nod. "I'm the driver Mr. Frederick Wolf assigned to you."
"Morning," I answered.
"Where to?"
"Pack Headquarters."
"Of course."
We pulled away from the curb, the city unfolding around us. My phone lit up with a message from Anna.
Anna: [Miss, the Elite Choice Executive Search Firm team will arrive this afternoon. Should I book a meeting room?]
I replied: [Book it. Three o'clock.]
Anna: [Understood.]
I put the phone down and watched the streets roll by. The district around Pack Headquarters was broader, cleaner, more modern than Capital City. Glass towers cut into the sky, traffic hummed like a living thing, and the air felt charged with ambition.
The Mercedes stopped in front of a silver-gray skyscraper. The Valerius Pack crest - a wolf poised on a crescent moon - was etched into the facade. I stepped out, took in a breath, and walked inside.
The lobby was all polished stone and glass. Employees moved with purpose, but each one who noticed me greeted me with a nod or a polite "Miss Valerius." I returned each acknowledgment with a small nod of my own.
The private elevator took me straight to the top floor. When the doors slid open, Anna was waiting, a folder in hand.
"Good morning, Miss," she said, passing it to me. "Today's schedule."
I glanced over it as we walked. Morning: department meeting. Afternoon: meeting with the Elite Choice team. Evening... blank.
"No plans tonight?" I asked.
Anna hesitated. "There are, but..."
"But?"
"It's from Mr. Frederick Wolf," she said in a low voice. "He said it's a dinner you must attend."
Another dinner. My stomach sank. "What kind of dinner?"
"I'm not sure. He only said it's someone important."
Someone important. My gut twisted with a sudden, ridiculous thought - please don't let this be some kind of arranged meeting.
"Fine," I sighed. "Send me the time and place."
"Yes, Miss."
My office was exactly what you'd expect of the Pack's leader - spacious, luxurious, with a wall of glass behind the desk framing the city skyline. I settled into the chair, powered on the computer, and got to work.
The department meeting ran smoothly. Each head presented their reports; I responded with decisions where I could, sent others back for more analysis where needed. I kept my tone calm, my focus sharp. By the end, I could feel the shift in the room - less doubt, more respect.
Lunch was quick, eaten at my desk while I went through more files.
At three sharp, the Elite Choice team arrived. Richard led them in, accompanied by several core members, plus a PR specialist and HR director sent by Anthony.
"Stephanie," Richard greeted me with a smile, extending his hand.
"Richard," I replied, shaking it.
He introduced the others, and we exchanged the usual pleasantries before diving into business.
We talked strategy - how to lure key talent from Lightwood Pack, how to build our own talent pool, how to secure a foothold in the market. The discussion was intense but productive.
Richard's suggestions were sharp, the PR specialist's insights invaluable.
Two hours later, the meeting wrapped. Outside, the sky was already dimming into early evening. I checked the time - 5:30. Ninety minutes until Frederick's mysterious dinner.
"Stephanie," Richard said as the others filed out, "were you free tonight? I'd have liked to take you to dinner, go over the next phase in more detail."