Fated To Three Betrayed By All Until She Rose (Leilani) by Ahvahh novel Chapter 85

**Healing Slowly But Surely**
By R. Joseph

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The lady in charge.

Leilani.

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“Take charge.” Those were the last words Jarek murmured into my ear, his breath warm against my skin, just before he stepped back to pull out the imposing chair at the head of the table. Initially, I assumed he was preparing to sit, but I was taken aback when his hand suddenly gripped my wrist, halting me mid-stride.

With a calm drawl, he insisted, “You’re to sit here. You’re in charge of this meeting.”

As those words hung in the air, a heavy silence enveloped the room, thick enough to cut with a knife. I swallowed hard, acutely aware of the small, encouraging smile he flashed my way, his fingers squeezing mine with a tenderness that felt both comforting and empowering.

In response, I couldn’t help but smile back, taking my seat despite the piercing glares from the faces that haunted my past.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” I began, my voice steady, yet I could feel the tremor of nerves beneath my composed exterior. “I am Leilani Sinclair, the leading engineer responsible for everything pertaining to CUSP. I was informed by my boss that you have set your sights on our technology, so I would like to know precisely what you expect from us.”

The sound of my voice echoed in the stillness, and despite the fluttering in my stomach, I managed to project confidence. Cold, unwavering confidence.

As I surveyed the faces before me, I noted the discomfort etched on their features. Gavin, for instance, couldn’t meet my gaze, and I was certain it had everything to do with the shocking discovery he made at my house just yesterday. My parents wore their usual expressions of disapproval, their scowls deepening as they assessed the situation.

Chalice, on the other hand, had turned a bright shade of crimson, while the two men seated beside her, Kael and Caelum, seemed unable to muster the courage to look at me.

I was well aware that their avoidance stemmed from the painful memories of our last encounter.

Zevran, too, was no better. Although I felt a flicker of gratitude for his actions on that fateful night, it didn’t erase the fact that he was still one of them—someone who had inflicted pain just as much as the others had.

I sighed, irritation creeping into my voice. “Why is no one speaking? Have you lost your interest in collaborating with us on the CUSP project?”

Jarek chuckled softly, but the silence persisted. The tension in the air was almost tangible, thickening with every passing second, until it was finally shattered by Zevran’s deep voice.

“We want to. We just didn’t think that—”

“I’ll be the one you’ll be negotiating with?” I interrupted, my tone sharp, relishing the way his face flushed before he averted his eyes.

“Yes,” he conceded, his voice barely above a whisper.

“So, you intended to get your hands on my ongoing project but didn’t want to deal with me?” I retorted, a sense of satisfaction washing over me as I watched everyone avert their gazes.

This was my strategy: to irritate them until they abandoned their dreams of partnership. To provoke them until they revealed something I could use against them. I had a treasure trove of information that could bring them crashing down; I just needed a little more.

Caelum piped up, “We know you’re the leading engineer for this project. But this matter should be discussed between us and the management. Not with you.”

I took a deep breath, cutting through the thick tension. “Now, I understand why the Stormborns are here. You wish to partner with us on the CUSP project. However, I’m unclear about the Blackthornes’ presence. Do you also wish to collaborate?” My voice trailed off, and a small, almost mischievous smile crept onto my face. “Oh, I’m sorry, but your company isn’t listed among those eligible to partner with us at this time… So, would you like to purchase shares instead?”

The expressions on my father’s and Gavin’s faces were priceless; they looked as if they might explode with rage. Their faces flushed crimson, and I could practically see the steam rising from their ears. While my father clenched his fists on the table in a futile attempt to mask his fury, he managed to respond with an unsettling calmness.

“No. But your sister wants to work with this prestigious company on the development of CUSP. She’s a talented software developer who has always aspired to learn about its core features and understand the technology behind its engineering. I hope you can appreciate that?”

“I understand,” I replied softly, but then turned to Chalice, who was still blushing furiously. “She has already been assessed by us after submitting her CV last time, and I can say—without any bias—that she is not fit to work with our team.”

Her jaw dropped in disbelief. “No, that’s not true!”

“Strength-wise, she’s lacking. And in terms of character, she has a tendency to talk back to her superiors. She doesn’t accept corrections and lacks a positive attitude toward her work.”

“But you don’t know that!” she screamed, the veins in her neck bulging dangerously.

I sighed, “I may not know her personally, but you just proved my point.”

That silenced her, her mouth snapping shut. Even my father looked as if he might disintegrate from sheer indignation, his eyes narrowing into fierce slits as he glared at me. Surprisingly, Gavin remained silent, a rare occurrence that only added to the tension.

I turned my attention back to the triplets. “And to you, Alphas, I regret to inform you that I do not wish to collaborate with you. Therefore, this partnership will not work. Thank you.”

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