Chapter 3 - The Boardroom and the Beast
The New York office of Sterling-Vance Designs was located on the forty-fifth floor of a glass skyscraper in Hudson Yards, offering a sweeping view of the river.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," my business partner, Julian Sterling, said as he walked into my office. He placed a cup of iced matcha on my desk. Julian was thirty-four, brilliant, fiercely protective, and possessed a quiet confidence that made him one of the most respected architects in Europe. We had met in Paris, and over the years, our professional partnership had grown into a deep, unspoken bond.
"I ran into Adrien at JFK," I said, taking a sip of the matcha.
Julian’s eyes darkened slightly. He knew the story. He had been the one to help me rebuild my confidence when I was just a shell of a designer in Paris. "What did he want?"
"He asked why I left without saying goodbye," I said, shaking my head. "He actually looked confused, Julian. As if the cheating wasn't the ending, but rather my reaction to it was the real tragedy."
"Men like Adrien Lou don't believe they can be abandoned," Julian said, leaning against the edge of my desk, his gaze dropping to mine. "They believe their mistakes are just temporary setbacks that women are obligated to help them recover from. Did he try to follow you?"
"No. I took a cab before he could get past his own shock," I replied. "But New York is small in our industry. I’m sure we’ll cross paths again."
"Let's make sure that when you do, you're standing on top of his world," Julian said with a faint, dangerous smile. "Speaking of which, we have the pitch meeting for the new Hudson Riverfront Redevelopment Project tomorrow morning. It’s a hundred-million-dollar contract. And guess who the lead developer is?"
Julian slid a folder across the desk. I opened it.
Lou Development Group. CEO: Adrien Lou.
I stared at his name on the paper. The universe, it seemed, had a very wicked sense of humor.
"He's been struggling since you left, Luna," Julian explained. "His father retired three years ago, and Adrien took over. But he doesn't have your eye for design, and he doesn't have your ability to negotiate with local zoning boards. Lou Development is bleeding money. This riverfront project is their last chance to avoid a buyout."
"He wants a European design firm to give the project prestige," I murmured, my mind already working through the schematics.
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"Exactly," Julian said. "He doesn't know you’re the 'Vance' in Sterling-Vance. He thinks he's pitching to a French corporate board. Tomorrow, you get to show him exactly what he lost."
I closed the folder, a quiet thrill of anticipation running through my veins. "Then let's make sure our design is absolutely flawless, Julian."
