Chapter 183

• Hazel wasn’t ready to let me walk away so easily not before extinguishing the idea of me becoming part of the Sterling dynasty. But I wasn’t in a rush to leave either. Sitting on the low, cushioned ottoman in front of Hazel’s imposing desk, I appeared composed and utterly unbothered by the power play. After surviving years in the harsh spotlight of corporate rivalries and personal betrayals, a tense boardroom atmosphere like this was second nature to me.
• I didn’t feel the need to flatter Hazel, who was already surrounded by people eager to gain her approval. I wasn’t here to win her over I was here to make my position clear. My engagement to Rafael wasn’t about romance or dreams of royalty; it was a mutually beneficial merger strategic, clean, and built on respect. That alone was enough.
• In fact, Hazel’s blunt, no-nonsense demeanor made things easier. There was something almost refreshing about a woman who showed her cards upfront. She was sharp, yes, but not manipulative. That was far easier to deal with than the polite venom I had once endured from the likes of Evelyn Warren.