Chapter 119 One Hundred & nineteen
Miranda stared at the hand like it was a weapon.
“You’re… the investor?” Miranda finally managed.
Izzy smiled faintly. “Among others. But yes. The majority capital is mine.”
Mr. Laurent nodded approvingly. “Mrs. Valenti has been instrumental in financing several international developments. Brilliant strategist.”
Dominic’s mind struggled to catch up.
Majority capital.
International developments.
Strategist.
The woman his mother had paid to disappear.
The woman he had searched for like she needed saving.
Izzy turned to him now.
Up close, she looked the same …. and completely different.
Beautiful… but Stronger.
Untouchable.
“Hello, Dominic,” she said quietly.
His name on her lips after six years nearly undid him.
“You’re the investor?” he asked, voice low, controlled only by sheer force.
“Yes.”
One word.
Steady.
Miranda found her voice again, brittle and sharp. “That’s impossible. She can’t be.. this is.. crazy.””
Izzy tilted her head slightly. “Is it?”
Mr. Laurent glanced between them, sensing tension but not understanding it. “Mrs. Valenti prefers to remain behind the scenes. Tonight was an exception.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened. “Why?”
Her gaze didn’t waver. “Because I believe in being present when I make decisions that matter. Especially when it comes to the Steeles Group.”
The weight of that sentence settled between them.
Miranda recovered quickly, forcing her social smile back into place. “Well. This is certainly… unexpected.”
“I imagine it is, for you Miranda. I’m glad you’re well behaved I’m glad. It would have been very disgraceful to see you behave in an uncouth manner” Izzy replied calmly.
Mr. Laurent clapped his hands lightly. “Now that we’re all acquainted, perhaps we can discuss final terms?”
Izzy nodded. “Of course.”
But before turning toward the private lounge area Mr. Laurent gestured to…
She looked directly at Dominic again.
Not as the girl who once loved him.
Not as the woman he lost.
But as his equal.
More richer.. more wiser
And for the first time in six years…
Dominic realized something chilling.
She hadn’t disappeared from fear… .
She had disappeared to survive, to rise.
And now…
She was standing above them all.
They moved into the private lounge area just off the ballroom …. quieter, more intimate, but no less tense.
Miranda regained her composure first, sitting straight-backed like a queen reclaiming her throne.
Dominic remained standing.
Izzy didn’t sit immediately.
She removed her gloves slowly, deliberately, placing them on the table before taking a seat across from them. Calm. Controlled.
Mr. Laurent smiled pleasantly. “Shall we begin?”
Izzy folded her hands lightly. “Yes.”
Her tone had changed.
It was no longer polite-hostess warmth.
It was steel.
“I’ve reviewed The Steele Group’s expansion proposal,” she began smoothly. “European acquisition, logistics infrastructure, renewable energy integration.”
Miranda blinked slightly at the correction.
“The Steele Group,” Izzy repeated evenly, as if emphasizing the name carried no personal weight to her.
Dominic’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Izzy continued. “Your numbers are optimistic. Your risk assessment is… underdeveloped. Your liquidity coverage in the second quarter projection is fragile.”
Miranda stiffened. “We have some of the strongest financial analysts in the country.”
Izzy’s gaze shifted to her coolly. “Then I suggest you hire better ones.”
Silence.
Mr. Laurent coughed lightly, uncomfortable but fascinated.
Dominic watched her carefully. She wasn’t emotional. She wasn’t bitter.
She was precise.
“I do not invest based on reputation,” Izzy went on. “I invest based on leverage, adaptability, and leadership stability.”
Her eyes flicked briefly to Dominic.
Leadership stability.
The word hung heavy.
Miranda’s voice sharpened. “If you have concerns, state them clearly.”
“I will,” Izzy replied.
She leaned back slightly, completely at ease.
“My primary concern is internal volatility. Public records show pending divorce proceedings. Media speculation about executive disputes. And historically…” — her gaze rested on Dominic now — “…questionable long-term decision-making.”
Dominic felt that one land.
Hard.
Miranda inhaled sharply. “That is personal.”
“No,” Izzy said calmly. “It’s financial. I don’t separate the two.”
The room felt colder.
Mr. Laurent shifted in his seat. “Mrs. Valenti has a very thorough due diligence process.”
“I’m aware,” Dominic said quietly, never breaking eye contact with her.
Izzy nodded once, acknowledging him.
Then she stood.
The movement was smooth. Final.
“I’m not here to negotiate tonight,” she said.
Miranda frowned. “Then why are we here?”
Izzy picked up her gloves. “To inform you.”
Dominic’s pulse ticked upward.
“I would like to see you tomorrow,” she continued, voice crisp and commanding, “at The Steele Group headquarters.”
Miranda’s eyes narrowed slightly. “For what purpose?”
Izzy’s lips curved faintly.. not warm. Not kind.
“I hope you can prove to me why your company is worth my investment.”
She paused just long enough.
“Of a trillion dollars.”
The number landed like an explosion in the room.
Even Mr. Laurent’s eyebrows rose.
Miranda’s breath hitched almost imperceptibly.
Dominic didn’t move.
A trillion.
Izzy adjusted her gloves calmly, as if she hadn’t just shifted the balance of power entirely.
“Ten a.m.,” she said. “Bring your strongest projections. And your strongest arguments.”
Her gaze lingered on Dominic for one final second.
“Convince me.”
Then she turned to Mr. Laurent with a polite nod. “Thank you for arranging this.”
“My pleasure,” he replied, clearly impressed.
Without another word to Dominic or Miranda—
Izzy walked out of the lounge.
Heels steady.
Back straight.
Not once looking back.
The door closed softly behind her.
Silence swallowed the room.
Miranda was the first to speak, her voice barely above a whisper.
“A trillion dollars…”
Dominic stared at the closed door.
She hadn’t come back for closure.
She hadn’t come back for him.
She had come back with power.
Not the scared Izzy knew..
She looked stronger..