Chapter 107

Sarah smiled in satisfaction after delivering her piece, then walked away, leaving an enraged Ariana standing there. Ariana clenched her fists tightly, trying to suppress her anger—this wasn’t the time or place to lose control.

"Hello, Lily, how are you?" Ariana greeted as she approached. Lily looked up from her paperwork and met Ariana's gaze. Dressed in a sharp, professional outfit similar to how she'd appeared when they first met in Europe, Ariana exuded the same intelligence and business acumen. But now that Lily knew the truth about who Ariana was, she couldn't help but see her as the woman Alexander once cared for before she betrayed him.

The thought of Alexander's past affection for Ariana made Lily feel a deep unease. If it were up to her, she would have dissolved their business contract to avoid further contact. Lily sensed Ariana's presence brought nothing good. She had overheard the conversation between Ariana and Sarah outside her office, and though Sarah's words could easily have provoked anger, Ariana had remained calm. Now, she stood there, smiling—a smile that was clearly a façade.

Lily returned a small, polite smile. "Welcome to Blake Group headquarters, Ms. Martins. Please have a seat, and we can begin."

"Thank you, Mrs. Kane," Ariana replied, taking a seat opposite Lily. Lily nodded and handed her some files. "These are for the project. We'll have a meeting with the department handling it in a few minutes."

"Alright," Ariana said as she took the files and began reviewing them. The office fell silent as both women focused on their work. A few minutes later, Ariana spoke up. "I'm done."

Lily glanced up, slightly surprised. "You've finished reviewing them already?"

"Yes, it's straightforward. We're planning to build the largest shopping complex in the newly developing suburban district," Ariana said with a confident smile.

Lily nodded, still scanning through her own files. "We have a few minutes before the meeting. I'll just go over these once more, and then we can head in."

"Okay," Ariana agreed, watching Lily as she worked. Seeing Lily's focus, Ariana understood why she had achieved so much in just a few years as the CEO of her grandfather's company. It made sense why Alexander admired her; she was the heir and had accomplished everything on her own, without his help.

Ariana silently vowed to bring Lily down, to make her lose her status as the most successful businesswoman in the city, and then, perhaps, Alexander would turn his attention back to her. As she surveyed the office, the familiar design caught her eye.

Lily's office was decorated in a soothing gray palette, with expensive paintings adorning the walls and a plush couch inviting guests to relax. The large window offered a stunning view of the city, filling the room with natural light and creating a tranquil atmosphere.

"Your office is beautiful, Lily," Ariana complimented.

"Thank you," Lily responded without looking up.

"The design reminds me of someone," Ariana added, a smile playing on her lips as she thought of Alexander, who loved such designs, especially offices with a city view.

Lily looked up at her, aware of who Ariana was referring to. Did she still remember Alexander?

"Oh really? My husband designed this office specifically for me," Lily said with a content smile.

Ariana's smile faltered; she hadn't expected that. She almost let her guard slip. "Really?"

"Yes. So, who did it remind you of?" Lily asked, looking Ariana directly in the eye, waiting to catch any lie she might tell.

Ariana ran a hand through her hair with a practiced grace. "There was someone who kept me company while I was recovering after waking from a coma. He loved the color gray and always talked about how much he admired an office with a view of the city, just like this one. I miss him dearly and wish he were with me now," Ariana said, her words clearly referring to Alexander, though she pretended it was someone else.

Lily knew she was lying but chose to stay silent, knowing that Ariana would eventually reveal her true intentions. They both left the office and headed to the meeting.

Lily introduced Ariana to the project team. "Mrs. Kane, would it be alright if I added three members from my company to the project team?" Ariana asked.

Lily was unsure of Ariana's motives but couldn't refuse since Ariana was part of the project. "Of course," she replied.

"Thanks," Ariana said, satisfied. The meeting commenced with the team leader presenting the full project details. At one point, Ariana grew confused and interrupted, "Excuse me, could you hold on a second?"

"Is there an issue, Ms. Martins?" Lily inquired.

"Why wasn't I informed about this?" Ariana asked, pointing to a part of the project being discussed.

Lily looked at the section Ariana indicated. The shopping complex was set to be built in a district undergoing development. The government's plan was for this district to become one of the top areas in the state, and this complex was expected to be a major attraction. However, Ariana hadn't noticed the location change. The government had recently revised the district's development plan, allocating a new location for all commercial projects, including theirs. Residential and commercial areas were now to be segregated.

"I want to know why I wasn't informed about the location change," Ariana demanded.

"The government revised the district's development plan. They want residential buildings in one area and commercial ones in another," Lily explained.

"Then why didn't you tell me?" Ariana asked, visibly irritated.

"I gave you the project file to review when we were alone in the office. You read through it so quickly that I wondered if you had noted all the details," Lily replied calmly.

"You should have mentioned it directly!" Ariana snapped, unable to contain her anger any longer.

Her outburst shocked everyone in the room, including several company directors present to sign off on the project plan. Lily smiled at Ariana's sudden loss of composure. If something this minor could provoke her, what would happen with a more significant issue? It was becoming increasingly clear that Ariana harbored deep-seated anger and resentment toward her, something Lily had noticed the day Ariana visited their home with her mother.

Ariana would eventually expose herself, and Lily couldn't wait for that moment, as it would give her a valid reason to deal with her.

Lily leaned back in her chair with the authority of a true leader. "Ms. Martins, you overlooked the part that stated when the government made changes to the plan. You should have read the file carefully. As a businesswoman, why aren't you staying updated on business and governmental news, especially regarding this district project?"

Everyone in the room turned to Ariana, waiting for her response. She could feel their eyes on her, and the weight of their scrutiny made her realize she should have kept herself informed about the country's current affairs. Now, she had embarrassed herself in front of everyone.

It wasn't Lily's responsibility to inform her of something that was already public knowledge.

"You were in the media spotlight just a few days ago, Ms. Martins. You should be aware of how the media operates: all news, including business updates, is reported. You should prioritize staying informed on important matters," Lily stated firmly.

Ariana was left speechless, having lost her temper over something she should have already known. She had no defense.

"I expect this project to be a success, as it will be the first and last collaboration between Blake Group and Martins Corporation," Lily declared in front of everyone.

Ariana's anger boiled within her. Lily had dared to humiliate her publicly, and she would make her pay for it. She clenched her fists tightly, vowing revenge.