Chapter 40

The moment Kate walked into the meeting room, her earlier confidence evaporated. Her eyes immediately found Lilly, sitting beside Alexander at the head of the table. Lilly's expression was neutral, her eyes sharp and unreadable as she met Kate's gaze, offering nothing that would betray recognition. The weight of the silence was thick between them.

"Ms. Blake, they're ready for us," Kate's assistant murmured,noting her momentary shock. Kate quickly snapped out of her daze, forcing a smile as she mentally recalled her mother's words: Be cordial with Lilly. Win over her favor,and you win the family.

"Good morning, everyone," Kate began, her voice smooth and professional."I am the CEO of Blake Real Estate, and I'm eager to discuss the potential for a partnership with Kane Realty." She took a moment to let her words sink in, then moved toward the designated seat. The team followed,their eyes briefly flicking to Lilly before they sat down opposite her.

Kate flashed Lilly a bright, calculated smile, her gaze lingering,but Lilly remained stone-faced, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. The silent tension between them was palpable. Kate then turned her charm on Alexander,who was observing the room with a detached air. Lilly caught it-ahint of something deeper in his eyes, like he was silently scrutinizing the very atmosphere. “Thank you for considering our proposal, Mr. Kane,” Kate continued, her tone purposeful, designed to convey respect yet laced with an underlying hope for approval. She glanced over at him, but Alexander's gaze remained unreadable. His lips only parted to issue a cold, matter-of-fact reply: "Let's wait until your project is reviewed before you thank me." Kate's smile faltered briefly, but she recovered quickly, gesturing for her team to begin the presentation. The lights dimmed as they activated the projector, and the room fell into a focused silence, all eyes on the screen.

Lilly sat back, her posture composed, her attention unwavering. She was completely still, almost too still, but Alexander noticed. She was watching-not just observing, but calculating. After a few minutes, the lights flicked back on, and Kate, feeling the weight of Alexander's silent presence,turned to him.

"What do you think, Mr. Kane?" she asked, her tone now tinged with uncertainty.

Alexander's gaze slid to Lilly, his eyes narrowing with a quiet intensity."What are your thoughts?" he asked, his voice a quiet command that sent a ripple of surprise through the roomn. Kate's smile faltered for a moment,not expecting him to turn the conversation to Lilly so quickly.

Lilly's gaze flicked up to meet Alexander's, and for a heartbeat, time seemed to stretch. She picked up the project file and slid it across the table toward Kate. The sharp sound of paper brushing against the table broke the silence.

Kate glanced down at the file, and immediately, her expression shifted from confusion to recognition. “What's this about?" she asked,her voice strained. "Open it and find out," Lilly replied coolly, her tone so calm it was almost unnerving. The room held its breath as everyone watched the exchange-this was more than just business now. This was personal. Kate's fingers trembled slightly as she flipped open the file. Her face drained of color as she scanned the pages. Red marks. The bold “Redo" stamped at the end of the last page. "How dare you?"she muttered under her breath. The irritation boiled in her chest, but she masked it quickly.

"This project is a mess," Lilly said, her voice dripping with scorn.′′Ilacks proper planning, and the presentation only made it worse. You should be embarrassed," she added, her eyes cold.

Kate fought to keep her composure, but the anger was evident in her clenched jaw. She turned toward Alexander, desperate to salvage something. "Mr. Kane," she began, her voice more measured but tight with frustration. "Our company has a stellar record, numerous successful government projects. You can trust us."

Lilly's laughter, sharp and unexpected, rang out, slicing through Kate's words like a blade. The room stiffened at the sound, and even Alexander's expression flickered with a hint of curiosity.

"Trust you?" Lilly said, her voice dripping with irony. “Don't you even know how the Blake empire works? And you think you can just waltz in here,presenting something this flawed, and expect us to take you seriously?"She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “Didn't our grandfather tell you that those 'stellar' projects were approved by me-and my late sisters?”

The silence that followed was suffocating. Kate's face twisted in disbelief,her hands shaking with barely restrained rage. The room seemed to shrink under the weight of the unspoken challenge. Alexander, ever the observer.watched the drama unfold with his usual detachment, but even he couldn't ignore the tension cr ackling between the two women. Kate tried to salvage her dignity, her voice now clipped and defensive."Grandfather had many consultants," she shot back, her words biting. "What makes you think it was your work?" Lilly's eyes darkened, the calmness in her expression now laced with something dangerous. "You still don't understand, do you?" she said quietly, her voice almost a whisper. "I am the heir. I'm the one who mnade those decisions. And if you're still questioning it, maybe you should do your homework."

The room froze. Kate's lips parted, her retort dying on her tongue. She wanted to argue, to find a way to turn the tables, but the facts were laid bare, and they weren't in her favor. Lilly had just crushedI any hope of salvaging her reputation at that moment.

"This is your first project, and it's a failure," Lilly continued, her voice calm but final. "I'm disappointed. What do you think Grandfather would say about this?"

Kate's face turned a shade of crimson. The room held its collective breath,waiting for her to snap. But she didn't. She clenched her fists, her shoulders stiff witha humiliation. She knew she had lost.

But Lilly, in a rare moment of grace, offered a lifeline. "I'll give you a second chance," she said, her tone surprisingly gentle. "Draft a new contract, and if it meets my standards, I'll approve it."

Alexander's gaze shifted to Llly, a small glimmer of admiration flickering in his eyes. He remained silent, but his approval was clear.Kate,seething,could hardly contain her rage, but she had no choice but to nod in reluctant agreement.

"Fine," Kate spat, her voice low. "But this isn't over." With that, she stormed out of the room, her heels clicking loudly on the polished floor, a thunderous declaration of her fury. As soon as the door slammed shut behind her, Lilly leaned back in her chair,exhaling slowly. She had expected resistance, but the venom in Kate's reaction had caught her off guard.

Out in the hallway, far from the meeting room. Kate was a different person."We have a chance to redo it. We should be grateful," she muttered to herself, her hands cleniched into fists. But the fury didn't fade. It only grew.

She turned to her team, her voice low but seething. "It was my sister,not Mr. Kane! She plans to humiliate me again-again! But this time, I'll make sure she knows her place."

Her smirk was cold, calculating. "You won this time, Lilly," Kate wvhispered,her voice a promise, "But next time... I'll be the one in control."

And as she walked away, the echoes of her words hung in the air, an ominous reminder that the battle between them was far from over