Too Late for Sorry, Mr. Billionaire (Chasing my Wife Back) novel Chapter 117

117

THE afternoon sun dipped lower as the Satin & Sage boardroom buzzed with the aftermath of the collaboration meeting. Papers were being shuffled into files, laptops clicked shut, and soft murmurs of assistants exchanging schedules filled the air. Amelia had barely risen from her seat when the sound of the door opening again drew everyone’s attention.

Ryan stepped in, calm as ever, his dark suit crisp, his confident stride deliberate. He carried himself as though he belonged there, though Amelia hadn’t expected him to make an appearance until later in the day.

“Ma’am,” he greeted smoothly, his eyes flicking briefly to Adrian before settling on her with a warm smile. “I hope I’m not intruding. I thought I should stop by, see how the first round went. I finished from the meeting earlier than I expected,” he winked.

Something in his tone was too casual, too calculated. Adrian stiffened. This guy was getting on his nerves.

“Of course,” Amelia said quickly, masking her unease with professionalism. “We are just wrapping up.”

Ryan moved closer, his gaze sweeping across the table, landing squarely on Adrian.

“Mr. Cole,” he said, offering a handshake that was just a fraction too firm, too drawn out. “I have heard a lot about your proposals for us. Impressive work, really.”

Adrian accepted the handshake with equal control, his jaw tight, and his eyes steady.

“Well, Satin & Sage has made remarkable strides under you and my wife’s influence.”

The smile on Ryan’s face quickly disappeared, Adrian saw it, and he smiled satisfactorily.

The civility was strained, their smiles tight, like two fencers testing each other’s defenses. Amelia sensed the shift immediately. The air, already charged from the earlier interruption, thickened with silent competition.

As the discussion turned back to next steps, Ryan slid into the vacant chair beside Amelia, uninvited. He leaned forward, resting his arm on the table in a way that closed the space between them.

“So, Amelia,” he said smoothly, “how do you feel about Adrian’s timeline? Personally, I think it is a little too aggressive. Don’t you?”

Amelia hesitated, glancing at Adrian. She had been inclined to agree with Adrian’s push for bold expansion, but Ryan’s question seemed like a trap.

“I think it is ambitious,” she replied carefully. “But achievable if both teams stay aligned.”

“Ambitious,” Ryan echoed, a faint edge of skepticism in his voice. “That is one word for it. Risky might be another. I would hate to see Satin & Sage rushed into something we can’t sustain.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

“Calculated risks are part of growth. Playing safe keeps you stagnant.”

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