Chapter 118
Chapter 118
Kenna hesitated, then stopped herself mid-sentence.
"What is it? Just say it—we're family." Octavia caught the reluctance on her face.
"It's nothing major. The Rivera family is back in the country. They heard about your gala invitation last night and want to attend. Would that be okay?"
The Rivera family wanted in?
Octavia had no objection.
But something felt off.
The Rivera family had built their fortune in real estate, later branching into finance. AI had never been on their radar.
Their sudden return nagged at her—like she was missing a piece of the puzzle.
"Of course they can come," Octavia said without hesitation. "But is there something else going on with the Rivera family?"
Business people developed sharp instincts about these things.
Kenna had run a company long enough to read between the lines. "I'll keep my eyes open. The Miller family may be small, but we're not easy prey."
---
The next morning.
Octavia arrived at the office to find Finnian looking troubled again.
He frowned as she approached and slid a contract across the desk. "Look at this. That software development deal we've been tracking for months—we were planning a joint venture, a powerhouse collaboration. Someone snatched it out from under us."
Octavia scanned the details. When she saw which company was involved, she laughed—the kind of laugh that came from pure disbelief.
"So we just lost a major partnership to a brand-new company that doesn't even have a permanent office address?"
"Now you see it. Connections are everything. With Ignatius backing her, people are lining up to work with Yvaine's company before the paint's even dry."
And the real motive was obvious.
Yvaine hadn't pursued this deal because she genuinely wanted the partnership. She'd done it purely to spite Octavia.
Octavia's jaw tightened. "I'm taking the afternoon off. You and I are paying a visit."
The government project they were working on had reached its most critical phase. Taking time off wasn't easy, but if she finished the day's work first, it was doable.
She powered through the morning in a blur of deadlines. By afternoon, she and Finnian stood in the lobby of the Dixon Group.
---
First floor. Reception.
The receptionist glanced at Octavia, then at Finnian.
"Please don't put me in a difficult position. Mr. Dixon is extremely busy right now—he really can't see you. Company policy requires an appointment."
Finnian looked at Octavia. "We understand. But could you at least pass along this revised contract?"
Knowing they wouldn't get a meeting today, they turned to leave—
Several security guards came rushing through the lobby.
"Hurry up! Ms. Lavien and Mr. Grimaldi are on their way. Everyone in position—look sharp!"
Ms. Lavien and Mr. Grimaldi.
Yvaine and Ignatius.
As the staff scrambled into formation, Octavia grabbed Finnian's hand and slipped around the corner of the stairwell.
Finnian stared at her, wide-eyed. "What are you doing? This is getting awkward. They're about to roll out the red carpet for those two while we got turned away at the door."
The injustice stung.
Octavia shrugged. "Relax. There are no permanent enemies in business, and no permanent friends either. They chose to shelter under a big tree. We can win people over with something better—profit."
Fortune is a wheel.
Francis Dixon wanted the prestige of aligning with Ignatius. That was obvious.
But for a company like the Dixon Group, the bottom line mattered more than names.
Yvaine and Ignatius were proud. Arrogant, even.
It didn't take a genius to predict they'd waltz in with sky-high demands, refuse to budge on details, and squeeze every last drop of profit from the deal.
What Octavia and Finnian needed to offer was a genuine win-win.
Soon, the rumble of an engine echoed outside.
A luxury car pulled up to the entrance.
Octavia peered around the corner and watched Ignatius step out, his long legs unfolding from the vehicle.
Custom-tailored suit. Tall, lean frame. An aura of effortless aristocratic elegance. That sculpted face was expressionless—until Yvaine emerged from the car. Then a trace of warmth softened his lips.
Standing together, they were an infuriatingly perfect match.
Stunning. Both of them.
The entire Dixon Group staff rushed to welcome them. Francis appeared personally, practically bowing and scraping at the sight of the pair.
Ignatius and Yvaine swept inside like royalty holding court.
---
In the corner.
Finnian stole a careful glance at Octavia. Seeing no trace of heartbreak, he exhaled hard—though concern still lingered in his eyes.
Octavia rolled her eyes. "Seriously? We don't have time for feelings right now. Focus on getting that deal back."
Honestly, there were better partnerships out there. But the Dixon Group deal had been stolen from Octavia.
Her man could be taken—fine. But her business partner? Absolutely not.
---
Hours crawled by.
Francis personally escorted Ignatius and Yvaine downstairs with a full entourage.
The moment Ignatius's car disappeared, Francis's people couldn't hold back.
"Mr. Dixon, what do we do now? Their company dwarfs ours, sure, but do we really have to swallow this? That Ms. Lavien acted like we don't even exist. You'd think we were their subsidiary."
"The arrogance was unreal. They wouldn't budge on a single point. That wasn't a negotiation—it was a power play. They came here to crush us."
Partnerships were supposed to be mutually beneficial.
Aligning with a giant meant having a safety net—someone to call when trouble hit.
But at what cost? The deal terms were brutal. The profit split alone was highway robbery.
Shelter under a big tree, sure—but if the tree takes all your sunlight, what's the point?
Francis rubbed his temples, irritation rolling off him in waves. "Fine. Everyone get back to work. I'm taking the executive elevator up."
He pressed his fingers against his temples.
The elevator doors began to close—
A hand shot through the gap.
The doors slid back open.
Francis's eyes went wide when he saw who stood outside. Shock gave way to an awkward smile.
"You two are..."
"Well, we heard Mr. Dixon wasn't in the office, so we figured we'd wait around and hope for a lucky break." Octavia flashed a bright smile. "Turns out our luck is better than we thought—running into you right here."
Finnian was visibly annoyed at the man who'd refused to see them, so he kept his mouth shut. Octavia didn't mind. She grabbed his arm and pushed him into the elevator.