Chapter 15 — Cossette's POV
"So, darling," I said, the word sliding out like a sharpened ribbon of sarcasm. "Before we start, let me introduce myself—because apparently I don't know two of you." I smiled, the polite, dangerous smile I'd learned to wear.
Across the table, two younger faces fidgeted. I knew Alaric—Frost's flashy project manager—well enough. The others were new to me.
Frost gave them the barely-there nod that passed for permission. He always controlled the room like that; I'd admired it once, when I was still soft. How foolish I had been.
The woman answered first, all practiced sweetness. "Hi—I'm Anna. Manager's assistant and social media promotions."
The man beside her spoke flatly, eyes holding mine so long I felt a shiver. "Andrew. Human Resources."
Alaric, ever the performer, stood and bowed with a flourish. "I'm Alaric—Tasty's manager, and the most handsome man in the room." He kissed my hand with theatrical charm. I chortled despite myself. Alaric had always been that bright, annoying comet—unbothered by Frost's chill. Rare, and oddly endearing.
Frost's gaze darkened when Alaric touched my hand—so dark it burned. It shouldn't have mattered. He's the one who betrayed me, who let my blood stain the parking floor. He killed me. The thought made my blood boil, dangerous and hot.
Anika sat like a chess piece come alive—cool, exhausted by the fact that I belonged in the meeting today. I didn't care if she simmered; I'd watch them fall, one by one.
Frost folded his hands on the table, knuckles whitening, and fixed me with that look—razor-thin and hostile, as if he wanted to tear me apart in public. "Let's start. Alaric, talk about the new product."
Alaric obliged, flipping the presentation onto the screen with a grin that should have been reassuring. He introduced the idea like a bad joke: "New canned-food collection—Grandma's Food for University Students."
Laughter ripped out of me—bigger than I intended. Heads turned. Anika's eyes moved up and down me like a measuring stick. I laughed harder.
"Grandma's food… for university?" I managed, still chuckling. "Are we marketing to nineteen-year-olds who want mashed potatoes after an all-night study session? They eat pizza, pasta, instant noodles. They want fun—not—" I stopped and forced a breath. "My grandmother's cooking is divine, but it's not exactly trendy dorm fare."
Frost's stare landed on me like a thrown knife. "How dare you laugh in a meeting," he snapped. "This is not a hotel."
Anika's lip curled. "She's inexperienced, Frost. She doesn't understand."
"Miss Cossette," Andrew intervened, officious, "we worked months on this—"
Anna and Alaric watched me. Alaric looked… intrigued. Two days ago I'd been the quiet heiress; now I was loud and impossible, and it fascinated him.
"I can laugh whenever I want," I said, smiling with teeth I kept too sharp. "And honestly, seeing this, I understand why you accepted the merger so quickly—you saw how easy it would be to steer my company your way." The smile was a dare.
Frost's voice cut like glass. "We will continue this project—whether you like it or not."
"Fine," I said, rising. "Continue. And I'll launch my own campaign targeting universities—the students will eat my food, and we'll see who wins." I smirked, folding my hands like a queen dismissing a nuisance.
Anika barked, "You can't do that—we're the same company."
"I can," I replied coolly. "I have full rights to my father's company. I'll do whatever I want." I stood, smoothing my skirt. "I'll let you with your meeting. I have work." It was a lie—one of many I would use—but it sounded true.
Frost rose too, the motion slow and controlled. "You're leaving now? No one under my company leaves a meeting before it ends." His voice held that clipped authority he used to tame the room.
I walked to the door, turned slowly, and blinked at him, amused. "Try to catch me."
I closed the door a little harder than I meant to.
I'd intended to be patient, to play the long game—slow and steady. But something in me had snapped. The urge to outshine him, to make him and Anika pay, flared hot and reckless in my chest. I knew my boldness would speed their hatred, make them want to rid themselves of me sooner rather than later.
Good. Let them rush.
I had time, cunning, and a stubborn, dangerous heart. And I would not be the woman they thought she'd killed.