Free Web NovelChapter 114: Chapter 114 Corporate Chess
Caesar’s POV
My wolf paced restlessly within me, displeased with how I’d handled the encounter.
The moment I stepped into my office, Beta Dylan trailed behind, tension rolling off him like a stormfront.
He closed the door softly behind us, but the second it latched, I felt the shift in the air.
He was bracing himself.
"Alpha..." His voice was low, careful. "Forgive me, but what just happened out there?"
I didn’t answer. Just moved behind my desk, letting the silence stretch until it was taut enough to snap.
Dylan stood his ground, though I saw the flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "That was your Luna," he said, quieter this time. "And you spoke to her like she was a stranger."
I raised my head slowly, fixing him with a cold stare. "Since when do I owe you an explanation for my personal decisions?"
The words were sharp, a warning wrapped in velvet.
Most wolves would’ve dropped to their knees.
Dylan stiffened but didn’t back down entirely. Brave—or foolish.
"My apologies, Alpha," he said quickly, bowing his head. "It’s not my place. But..." He hesitated again, visibly weighing his next words. "She deserves clarity. Even just a fraction of it. Coldness like that—it’ll be read as rejection."
My wolf growled low in my chest, irritated by the truth in his words.
I stepped forward, tone dropping to something dangerous. "You’re one breath away from crossing a line, Dylan."
His gaze dropped instantly, wolf instincts kicking in, but the tension in his shoulders remained—a silent rebellion.
"Keep staring like that," I added, voice like ice, "and I’ll assume you’re volunteering to lose your sight."
He shut his eyes immediately, expression schooled into calm. Too calm. But I could smell the unease in him.
"And stop thinking whatever it is you’re thinking."
That earned me a twitch of his mouth—part disbelief, part frustration.
He swallowed hard, then bowed his head deeper.
"I mean no disrespect, Alpha," he said carefully."All I’m saying is that no normal mated pair interacts that wa. I’d be failing my role if I didn’t speak."
There it was. The line. And he’d just stepped over it.
Before I could say a word, Dylan turned and slipped out the door, shoulders tight, expecting the punishment that might follow a Beta daring to question his Alpha.
And maybe he deserved it.
I stared at the closed door, my wolf growing increasingly agitated within me.
Was Dylan right? Had I been too harsh with Sylvia?
But what choice did I have?
She was already suspicious about Vertex, and her sharp mind was connecting dots faster than I’d anticipated.
If I’d shown any weakness, revealed anything more, she would have figured it all out.
And if she learned the truth before I was ready to tell her...
I rubbed the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache building. Sylvia wasn’t just any woman. She was brilliant, perceptive, and determined.
Qualities that had first drawn me to her, but now made keeping necessary secrets nearly impossible.
The next day, Dylan received his transfer notice to the Arctic territories—not because of his outburst, but because the timing aligned with my plans.
Still, let him think it was punishment.
A healthy fear kept my inner circle sharp.
Sylvia’s POV
I strode into the conference room precisely at ten o’clock, ignoring the curious glances and whispers.
My encounter with Caesar yesterday had left me with a hollow feeling in my chest that I refused to acknowledge. freёweɓnovel.com
So I’d done what I always did when emotions threatened to overwhelm me—I threw myself into work. Into something I could control.
"Good morning, everyone," I greeted, handing my flash drive to my assistant. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."
The conference room was filled with familiar faces—board members, department heads, and senior staff.
I noted Mother sitting near the head of the table, her expression carefully neutral.
Beside her sat Selene, looking demure and attentive, though I caught the calculating gleam in her eyes.
I almost smiled. Let her watch. Let her learn what real ambition looked like.
"I’ve asked you here to discuss a new direction I believe is essential for Frostline Enterprises’ continued growth." I began, my voice steady and confident.
The room came alive with interest.
Even Mother, who’d been distant since our last interaction, seemed curious now.
I nodded to my assistant, who brought up the first slide of my presentation.
"As you can see, we’ve successfully penetrated the domestic market, culminating in our partnership with Vertex—a deal that has elevated our company’s standing considerably."
I clicked to the next slide. "However, I believe we’re approaching market saturation domestically. It’s time we looked beyond our borders."
The statement landed like a stone in still water, ripples of reaction spreading across the room. Some executives leaned forward with interest, while others exchanged skeptical glances.
"This," I continued, pointing to the projection, "is prime real estate overseas that I’ve identified as our next opportunity. Even with minimal development—entertainment venues, for instance—we could see return on investment almost immediately."
I could see Mother’s expression shifting, a flash of approval in her eyes that stirred something in my chest.
For all our differences, we shared the same ambitious streak, the same hunger for conquest.
"But," Selene’s gentle voice cut through the murmurs, "we have no established connections overseas. Isn’t this risky? What if we’re being misled about the property’s value?"
I couldn’t help the cold smile that formed on my lips. "In business, the greatest risk is excessive caution. Those who hesitate rarely make history."
Her face tightened. "Sylvia, I understand your enthusiasm, but we must consider everyone’s interests, not just your vision."
Mother sat between us, saying nothing but watching our exchange with hawk-like intensity.
The board members remained stone-faced, giving nothing away.
"If I were only concerned with my own interests," I countered, "I wouldn’t have brought this opportunity to the table for discussion. My point is simple: Frostline Enterprises cannot afford to stagnate. We must expand our horizons."
One of the senior executives cleared his throat. "What’s your confidence level in this project’s viability, Ms. Frost? Have you run the numbers thoroughly?"
I met his gaze directly. "I’d put it at seventy percent."
The admission dropped like a lead weight.
The room fell silent, and I could see Mother’s subtle shift in posture—she knew, as I did, that these conservative old wolves rarely approved anything without near-certainty.
I forged ahead anyway, summarizing my key points. "Our partnership with Vertex has cemented our domestic position. To grow further, we must look internationally. The potential rewards far outweigh the calculated risks."
When I finished, not a single person moved.
The silence stretched uncomfortably until Mother finally spoke.
"We’ll take this under advisement," she said neutrally. "Meeting adjourned. Everyone, consider the proposal carefully."
As the room emptied, I remained seated, watching their reactions.
Mother’s noncommittal response told me everything—she wasn’t opposed, but she wasn’t championing my idea either.
She was waiting to see which way the wind would blow with the board.
I clenched my fist under the table, determination hardening inside me.
If being Frostline’s managing director meant anything, it meant dragging this company forward—with or without their enthusiastic support.
