HIS STRIPPER, HIS WIFE novel Chapter 128

Chapter one hundred and twenty eight

Bianca

The first thing I noticed was how quiet the room was, a man sat behind a wide desk near the far end, he didn’t stand immediately, he just looked up slowly.

“Adrian,” he said.

“Dad,” Adrian answered, walking forward and shaking his hand.

Then those sharp eyes moved to me, and I felt my whole body go stiff for some seconds.

“And this must be the woman I’ve been hearing so little about,” he said, standing now, buttoning his blazer as he came around the desk.

“Bianca,” I said, offering my hand.

He took it, studying my face a little longer than necessary. “Mr. Delacroix,” he said. “Adrian’s father, obviously.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you, sir,” I said, keeping my voice steady even though my heart was beating too fast.

“Sit, sit,” he said, gesturing toward the two chairs across from his desk before settling back into his own seat. Adrian sat first, and I followed, crossing my legs and folding my hands to keep myself calm.

For a while, it was just small talk, how was the drive? Was it stressful getting here after work? Do I like this place? I answered everything, giving nothing more than what was asked, because I still didn’t know what kind of man I was dealing with.

Then his eyes moved to a newspaper folded neatly on the edge of his desk, the front page carrying a headline about a merger between two companies I actually recognized.

“That deal is going to fall apart within the year,” I said, before I could stop myself.

“Oh God Bianca,” I screamed inside my head; Mr. Delacroix turned his head slowly toward me. “Excuse me?”

I hesitated for a second, then decided there was no point backing out now. “The merger,” I said, nodding toward the paper. “Everyone’s calling it a smart move because of the market share, but nobody’s talking about how different their internal structures are. One company runs on central decision making, the other is used to independent heads making their own calls.” I paused.

“That kind of improper clash always creates problems at the top before it even gets to the staff. Give it eight months, maybe ten, and you’ll start seeing resignations from the executive side and reduction in their stocks.”

Nobody said anything for a moment, after some seconds, Adrian was the one who broke the silence, Great knowledge, You read business news?” he asked.

“I read everything,” I said, rolling my eyes at him.

Mr. Delacroix leaned back in his chair, he was looking at me now with a different kind of attention.

“Oh God! Did I overstep?”

“That’s a very specific opinion for someone of this age, a lady to be precise,” he said.

“Oh.” I said. “It’s just something I noticed.”

“No, please,” he said, holding up a hand. “Keep noticing. Tell me more.”

23.30

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HIS STRIPPER, HIS WIFE

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So I did, we talked about the merger a little longer, then somehow slid into a conversation about market expansion, then risk management, then why some family businesses fail once the second generation takes over and starts making decisions based on ego instead of numbers.

I found myself relaxing into it, forgetting for a moment that I was supposed to be nervous. At some point I noticed Adrian just watching me, not saying much, his arms folded, a look on his face like he was seeing me for the very first time.

“How do you know all this?” Mr. Delacroix finally asked, genuine curiosity in his voice. “Most people your age barely know the difference between profit and revenue, and here you are talking to me about organizational culture like you sat in dn a hundred boardroom meetings with high valued investors.”

I smiled a little. “My father was a businessman,” I said. “Not on this scale, obviously, but he ran a few companies growingup. Dinner in our house was never really about the food, it was more like a classroom. He would talk about a deal that went wrong, or a competitor that outsmarted him, and somehow I just started paying attention. As I grew older. I had no choice than to enjoy the conversations.

“Interesting man,” Mr. Delacroix said.

“He was,” I said, keeping my tone light even though the memory pulled at something in my chest.

He nodded slowly, seeming satisfied with that, then his eyes moved briefly to Adrian before landing back on me. “So tell me

he said, leaning forward slightly, his fingers together on the desk. “Where exactly did you two meet?”

I felt Adrian shift beside me, just slightly, and I could tell he was preparing for whatever I was about to say.

“The club,” I said plainly.

Mr. Delacroix’s eyebrows rose, just a little. “The club,” he repeated, like he was making sure he heard correctly.

“Yes sir.” I said, not backing down from it. “I know how that sounds.”

“No, no,” he said, waving a hand, though there was clear surprise written all over his face now. “I’m just… surprised. Adrian doesn’t do clubs. Doesn’t do spontaneous.”

I glanced at Adrian, who was suddenly very interested in something on the wall behind his father, and I almost laughed.

“I was having a really bad day,” I said, turning back to Mr. Delacroix. “One of those funny days, I wasn’t even planning to go out, but my friend dragged me there because she said I needed to stop sulking in my apartment.” I was doing my best to come up with a lie that sounded better.

“I wasn’t even in the mood to talk to anyone, honestly, I just wanted a drink and to sit somewhere quiet and then your son happened to be there.”

“And he approached you?” Mr. Delacroix asked, clearly enjoying this now.

“Something like that,” I said, deciding it was safer not to give too many details.

He let out a short laugh, shaking his head slightly, looking between the two of us like he was trying to picture it. “Well, he said. “I suppose bad days are good for something after all.”

“Apparently,” I said, and this time I let myself smile properly.

For the first time since we walked in, the tension in the room felt like it had loosened, like something had shifted in Mr. Delacroix’s opinion of me. Adrian noticed too, I could tell by the way his shoulders relaxed slightly beside me.

Mr. Delacroix looked at us for a long moment, that same sharp look returning to his eyes, though softer now. “You know,” he said slowly, “I had my doubts when Adrian first told me about all this. I didn’t approve of him going against what I want but watching you now, listening to you, I think I understand a little better.”

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