4

Sophie arrived at Reid Technologies at seven AM sharp, her presentation materials triple-checked and her armor carefully chosen – a charcoal Chanel suit she'd saved months to buy, paired with Louboutin heels that added three inches of confidence to her stance. War paint, her friend Mei called it. Today felt like going to war.

The office was quietly buzzing with pre-board meeting tension. Jenny caught her at the elevator with a latte and a sympathetic smile.

"Meeting's been moved to the executive boardroom on fifty," she said, falling into step beside Sophie. "And... you should know. He's been there since dawn."

No need to ask who 'he' was. Sophie took a steadying sip of coffee. "Thank you, Jenny."

The executive boardroom occupied half of the fiftieth floor, its floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of Manhattan. Sophie had fifteen minutes to set up before the board members arrived. More than enough time to—

"You're early."

She stiffened at Alexander's voice but didn't turn around. "So are you."

He moved into her peripheral vision, impeccable in a three-piece Tom Ford suit that probably cost more than her yearly rent. No sign of last night's revelry showed on his face.

"Nervous, Ms. Chen?"

"Should I be?" She connected her laptop to the presentation screen, careful to keep her movements smooth and unhurried.

"The board can be... demanding." Was that concern in his voice? No, impossible. "Especially Johnson. He'll try to throw you off balance."

"Like you did last night?"

His reflection in the window smiled grimly. "Consider that practice."

Before she could respond, the board members began filing in. Distinguished men and women in power suits, carrying tablets and coffee, their expressions ranging from politely interested to openly skeptical.

Sophie recognized most from her research. Thomas Johnson, the silver-haired venture capitalist who'd backed Alexander's earliest projects. Maria Delgado, tech pioneer turned angel investor. James Chen (no relation), whose family's old money had helped fund Reid Technologies' expansion east.

Alexander took his place at the head of the table, every inch the commanding CEO. "Ladies and gentlemen, before we begin our regular agenda, I'd like to introduce Sophie Chen, our new Senior Marketing Director. She has some interesting proposals for Q3."

Sophie moved to the front of the room with practiced grace. "Good morning. As you'll see in the materials before you..."

For twenty minutes, she outlined her strategy. Market penetration analysis, competitor vulnerabilities, innovative approaches to brand positioning. She was in her element, confident and clear.

Until Johnson spoke.

"Impressive research, Ms. Chen." His tone suggested anything but impression. "Tell me, did you gain similar insights during your time at Vertex Technologies?"

The room temperature seemed to drop ten degrees. Sophie felt Alexander tense at the head of the table but didn't dare look at him.

"Actually, Mr. Johnson," she said smoothly, "my experience at multiple tech companies has given me a unique perspective on market dynamics. If you'll look at page twelve..."

"Yes, let's talk about market dynamics." Johnson leaned forward. "Specifically, how Vertex always seemed one step ahead of Reid Technologies three years ago. Almost as if they had inside information."

"Thomas." Alexander's voice held a warning.

But Sophie was ready. She'd prepared for this moment since seeing her new employer's name on the offer letter.

"You're right, Mr. Johnson." Her clear admission surprised him into silence. "Vertex did have inside information. Information that, as it turned out, cost them more than they gained. Their stock dropped forty percent that year, while Reid Technologies saw a hundred and twenty percent growth. Sometimes seeing your competitor's cards makes you play too cautiously. Sometimes..." She looked directly at Alexander for the first time. "Sometimes what looks like advantage is actually weakness."

A moment of stunned silence followed. Then Maria Delgado laughed. "She's got you there, Tom. I remember that quarter – Vertex played it so safe they missed three major market opportunities."

The tension eased slightly. Sophie continued her presentation, fielding questions with increasing confidence. By the time she finished, even Johnson looked grudgingly thoughtful.

"Implementation timeline?" James Chen asked.

"We can begin phase one next week," Sophie replied. "Initial market testing suggests—"

"Absolutely not."

All heads turned to Alexander. His face was unreadable, but Sophie recognized the dangerous softness in his voice.

"Sir?" she kept her tone professionally puzzled.

"The timeline is too aggressive." He stood, buttoning his jacket in a gesture she remembered from countless presentations past. "While Ms. Chen's strategy has merit, implementation will require careful consideration of... potential vulnerabilities."

Their eyes locked across the conference table. In that moment, Sophie understood – he couldn't let her have control, couldn't trust her with anything vital to the company's success. Not again.

"Perhaps," she said carefully, "Mr. Reid would prefer to review the implementation plan in detail before proceeding. I'm happy to work closely with him to address any concerns."

Was that a flicker of surprise in his eyes? She pressed her advantage.

"After all, no one knows Reid Technologies' strengths better than its founder. I welcome his... oversight."

The challenge in her voice was subtle but clear. Several board members nodded approvingly at her diplomatic handling of the situation.

"Very well." Alexander's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "We'll review the details in my office. Tomorrow, eight AM."

The meeting moved on to other matters. Sophie gathered her materials, hyperaware of Alexander's presence but focused on maintaining her professional demeanor. She'd scored points with the board – even Johnson had stopped openly glaring – but at what cost?

As the room cleared, she felt Alexander behind her.

"Clever move," he said softly, close enough that she could feel his breath on her neck. "Using my own protectiveness against me."

She turned to face him, startled by his proximity. "I learned from the best."

"Did you?" His eyes searched hers. "Then you should remember what happens when people try to manipulate me."

"I remember everything, Alexander." She shouldn't have used his first name – it felt too intimate, too raw. But she couldn't stop herself. "Including things you never knew."

Something flickered in his expression. Before he could respond, Lisa appeared in the doorway.

"Sophie? Marketing team meeting in five."

The moment shattered. Sophie stepped back, gathering her professional armor around her like a shield.

"Eight AM tomorrow, Mr. Reid?"

He nodded once, sharply. As she walked away, she heard him call softly, "Wear something less defensive tomorrow, Sophie. You've nothing left to prove to me."

She kept walking, her heels clicking steadily on the polished floor. But inside, her heart raced. Because they both knew that wasn't true.

She had everything left to prove.

And only one chance to do it right.