Married to the Billionaire Who Betrayed Me novel Chapter 57

Chapter 57 Owning The Room Once Again

“My fund looks for nerve, Alexander said. ‘We look for founders who understand the mechanics of survival. When you are ready to discuss a Series A funding round to expand your manufacturing capabilities, call my private line. We will schedule a meeting.”

I took the card. The thick paper felt substantial.

“I will keep your firm in consideration, Mr. Redford,” I replied. I did not sound eager. I sounded like a woman evaluating her options

Alexander offered a curt nod. He turned and walked back into the crowd.

I slipped the card into my blazer pocket. A profound sense of victory settled in my chest. Alexander Redford just validated my existence in front of the capital elite. He ignored the Johnston scandal. He ignored the whispers. He saw a profitable business and a

dangerous CEO.

The interaction shifted the energy in the room. The predatory stares turned into calculating evaluations. If Alexander Redford considered Aegis a viable investment, the rest of the sharks needed to pay attention.

A woman approached next. Beatrice Langford. She operated a massive chain of high-end boutique department stores across the continent. She wore a sharp white pantsuit and formidable emerald earrings.

“Minerva, Beatrice said. She extended a hand. “Your marketing campaign is stark. It is brutal. I love it. My clients are tired of floral

packaging. They want edge.”

I shook her hand. Her grip was firm. Aegis provides the edge. We bypass the standard retail models.”

“I noticed, Beatrice replied, a shrewd smile touching her lips. ‘Direct to consumer is profitable, but you limit your physical footprint. I want an exclusive retail contract for my flagship locations. Ground floor displays. Maximum visibility.”

“My current manufacturing limits prohibit mass retail distribution, I explained. I engaged the negotiation. I pushed the trauma and the memories away. I operated in my element. “If we discuss a retail contract, we discuss a limited capsule collection. High scarcity.

Premium pricing.”

Beatrice’s eyes gleamed. She understood the tactic. Scarcity drove demand. “I appreciate a woman who understands leverage. Let us

schedule a lunch tomorrow.”

I spent the next hour navigating the grand atrium. I spoke with logistics coordinators, marketing directors, and private equity managers. I handed out my stark black business cards. I secured three tentative meetings for the following week.

I claimed my space in their world. I forced them to acknowledge my presence.

The heat of the room began to press against my skin. The continuous networking drained my energy. My lower back ached, a lingering phantom pain from Elias’s early birth. I needed a moment of quiet. I needed water.

I signaled to Marcus. He nodded. We moved toward a quieter alcove near the massive, glass windows overlooking the city skyline.

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Chapter 57 Owning The Room Once Again

I took a glass of iced water from a passing waiter. I turned my back to the crowded room and looked out at the glittering lights. The

capital city sprawled beneath me, a matrix of wealth and ambition. I conquered the summit. I proved my strength.

I took a sip of the cold water.

The ambient noise in the alcove shifted. The low hum of conversation vanished. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

Marcus and Leo tensed. They shifted their stances, moving to block the entrance to the alcove.

I did not turn around. I set the crystal glass on a nearby marble table. I knew who stood behind me: The air grew/heavy, carrying the distinct scent of expensive cedar and rain. A scent I spent a year trying to scrub from my memory.

“Stand down,” a deep, familiar voice commanded.

The voice belonged to a man accustomed to absolute obedience. It carried the weight of billions of dollars and generations of

corporate dominance.

Marcus did not move. “This is a private conversation area.”

“I am not asking for permission, the voice replied. The tone held a lethal, uncompromising edge.

I turned around.

Tristan Johnston stood three feet away.

He bypassed his own security detail. He stood alone. He wore the bespoke dark suit from the auditorium. Up close, the damage to his flawless facade was impossible to ignore. The severe lines around his mouth deepened. Dark shadows bruised the skin beneath his eyes. He looked like a man who spent twelve months fighting a war inside his own mind.

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