Saints Company – Next Morning
The boardroom was alive with chatter, directors and managers shuffling papers and whispering numbers before the meeting officially began. The glass walls let in the early sun, casting a sharp light across the long mahogany table.
Zach, ever-efficient, stood at Kashi's side, quietly briefing her as he arranged files neatly in front of her seat. "Miss Saints, quarterly reports have been compiled, though there are discrepancies in the marketing division. The directors are split on whether to scale back advertising costs or double down on the last campaign. They'll want your stance."
Frank slipped into the room a moment later, nodding respectfully before taking a quiet place by the wall, his presence steady as ever.
Every eye were on her, waiting. The weight of the Saints legacy pressed down, but this time it was her voice they expected to hear.
One of the senior directors cleared his throat, pushing forward a stack of papers. "Miss Saints, as acting CEO, the floor is yours. We need your directive on the campaign spend before we move further."
The silence was expectant, almost testing.
And through it all, in the back of her mind, Kashi could still feel the echo of icy blue eyes from the night before.
"The last campaign cost the company a lot of money. If we have any hope to reclaim that money or double the profit, we need to switch the strategy or sign a new deal with a higher holding company… any ideas?" Kashi looked at the rest of the board at the table calmly.
The directors exchanged uneasy glances, papers rustling as they scrambled for footing under her sharp question. A few cleared their throats, but it was the CFO, a balding man with spectacles perched low on his nose, who spoke first.
"With respect, Miss Saints," he began cautiously, "we've already invested heavily in this campaign. Pulling out now risks wasted resources. If we tighten expenses elsewhere, cut overhead, perhaps we could still see returns."
Another director, younger and bolder, immediately shook his head. "No, that won't work. The market is saturated. We need something fresh, a new partnership, something big enough to shift public perception. Otherwise, we'll keep bleeding."
The room stirred, murmurs growing again as sides began to form, the debate threatening to spiral into chaos.
Zach leaned closer to Kashi, whispering discreetly, "They're circling, Miss Saints. If you don't pin them down, they'll argue all morning."
All eyes flicked back to her, waiting, her voice the only one strong enough to cut through the noise.
This again, Kashi sighed internally. "Please, quiet down. We should be looking for a solution in unity. Baseless argument and fights aren't necessary," she said to them, and then turned to the younger bold director. "What are the top companies with the most benefits we could gain from if we signed with them?" she asked him.
The young director straightened immediately, clearly pleased she'd singled him out. He adjusted his tie, flipping open the file in front of him with eager hands.
"Yes, Miss Saints," he said quickly, his tone sharp but respectful. "Based on current market trends, there are three key players. First, Grey Holdings, their reach in Europe is unmatched, and despite… recent publicity," he hesitated briefly, eyeing her cautiously, "they remain powerful."
A few murmurs rippled at the table, but he pressed on.
"Second, Maverick International. They've been expanding aggressively into Asia, their numbers are strong, and they're hungry for partnerships. Aligning with them would give Saints Company global leverage."
He flipped another page, tapping it with his pen.
"And finally, the largest of them all, X Holdings. They're dominating across every sector, from luxury goods to energy. Partnering with them would skyrocket our influence and profitability overnight. But…" his voice trailed slightly, cautious again, "…they're also the hardest to secure. Their CEO is.... " he hesitated, almost unwilling to say the name aloud, "....very selective."
The room shifted, glances flicking discreetly toward Kashi, as if they all remembered the scandal still lingering in the air.
Zach leaned in again, whispering just for her: "They want to know your choice. Grey is risky. Maverick is ambitious. And X…" He didn't finish, but his pause said enough.
Kashi didn't falter. Not at this table. Showing these vultures her emotions and weakness would only damage the company further, so with an emotionless face and a strict voice, she said out loud, "Submit the files to Zach. I'll go through them on the weekend and then come up with the perfect one to sign with by next meeting."
She stood. "Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me."
The room fell into stunned silence, her words slicing through the tension with clean precision. The directors, who moments ago had been circling like hyenas, nodded quickly, their protests stifled under the weight of her authority.
"Yes, Miss Saints," the CFO muttered, pushing his papers toward Zach, who gathered them efficiently. The younger director bowed his head, equal parts disappointed and impressed that she hadn't let him bait her into choosing right there.
Zach stepped forward, files in hand, his expression unreadable, but the faintest spark of pride flickered in his eyes. "I'll have everything organized and on your desk before the evening, Miss Saints."
Kashi turned without another word, heels clicking sharply against the polished floor as Frank fell into step behind her, the loyal shadow he always was. The door shut behind her, leaving the board to stew in their own silence.
From the hallway, she could hear the muted hum of voices picking up again, but softer now, less like a rebellion, more like men who'd just been reminded who was in charge.
For the first time that morning, Saints Company didn't feel like her grandfather's legacy. It felt like hers.
The moment Kashi entered, the door shut softly behind her, muffling the last echoes of the boardroom. Zach placed the stack of files neatly on her desk, his movements crisp, his posture straight as always. Frank lingered a step back, arms crossed, watching her with the steady calm of someone who'd seen her grow into this role.
Zach adjusted his glasses, clearing his throat. "Miss Saints," he began carefully,
Zach slid the top file closer toward Kashi. "If I may suggest… Maverick International's file should be your first read. But..." his gaze flicked up, deliberate, "X Holdings is the one they're truly nervous about."
Frank smirked, his tone gruff but knowing. "Nervous is good. Keeps them on their toes. But you…" He studied Kashi for a beat. "You look like you've already made up your mind, even if you won't say it yet."
The room grew quiet, the weight of their trust in Kashi settling like a mantle on her shoulders.
"X Company is the most promising at hand right now. Even Grey Company couldn't get them on their list… there's a forty percent chance they'll agree to sign with us, but I'll take that chance." Kashi touched her temple, feeling a headache coming up. "Zach, set up a meeting between me and X Holdings. Tell them I have a proposal for them."
Zach blinked once, his composure never breaking, but the flicker in his eyes betrayed his surprise. He adjusted his tie and gave a small nod. "Understood, Miss Saints."
Kashi let out a low whistle, "Most CEOs won't even breathe in Chaos Riegrow's direction, let alone invite him to a table. Forty percent…" She shook her head with a dry chuckle. "That's better odds than most ever get with him."
Frank studied Kashi for a long moment. "Just remember, Riegrow doesn't play by anyone's rules. Not business, not politics. He's not like Damian, or Grey, or anyone you've gone toe to toe with before. Don't let him see weakness."
Zach gathered the files back into order, his voice calm but edged with the weight of what Kashi had just set in motion. "I'll inform you once we get confirmation. And, Miss Saints…" His eyes met hers steadily. "…this meeting will draw every eye in the market. If it goes well, Saints Company won't just rise, we'll be untouchable."
The air in the office grew heavy with the gravity of her decision. For the first time since stepping in as acting CEO, the battlefield ahead wasn't just numbers, it was him.
************************************************************** X Holdings Penthouse Office
The skyline stretched endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the late afternoon light bathing Chaos's office in a cold glow. He sat behind his desk, gloved fingers turning lazily through the pages of a quarterly report, though his eyes barely skimmed the numbers.
Xavier entered quietly, phone in hand. "Sir. A message from Saints Company."
Chaos didn't look up immediately, only flicked his gaze toward him. "Read it."
Xavier's tone was careful, neutral. "Their acting CEO, Kashi Saints, is requesting a meeting. She says she has a proposal for you."
That pulled his attention. Chaos leaned back slowly in his chair, eyes narrowing as he processed the words. The faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"A proposal?" he repeated, the word rolling off his tongue like it amused him. He drummed his fingers once against the armrest. "The same woman who swore she wanted nothing to do with me, now sends me an invitation?"
Alex, sprawled casually on the leather couch with a cigar in hand, let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, this is rich. The heiress finally bends enough to come knocking." He smirked, blowing out smoke. "What are you going to do? Make her sweat?"
Chaos's eyes darkened, the playful edge gone in an instant. "No," he said evenly, standing and moving to the window, his reflection staring back at him in the glass. "I'll hear her out. Let her sit across from me. Let her think she's in control."
He slipped off one glove, flexing his hand as though the thought alone stirred something restless inside him.
"Because every time she tries to push me away…" His voice dipped, quiet but dangerous. "…she walks right back into my reach."
Xavier and Alex exchanged a knowing look, but neither spoke. The decision had already been made.
********************************************************** Saints Estate – Later That Evening
Kashi had barely slipped off her heels when a servant informed her that her grandfather was waiting in the study. The moment she stepped inside, she found him already seated in his leather chair, a half-empty glass of whiskey in hand. His expression was sharp, his eyes narrowing the second they landed on her.
"So," Grandfather James began, his voice heavy, "I hear you've gone and asked X Holdings for a meeting." He swirled the amber liquid slowly, watching it spiral.
"Tell me, Kashi… have you lost your mind?"
Frank hovered near the fireplace, silent but tense, clearly bracing for what was about to follow.
Her grandfather leaned forward, setting his glass down with a solid thud. "I told you to stay away from that boy. From him. Chaos Riegrow doesn't partner, he conquers. If you sit at his table, you risk putting the Saints name on his leash."
His eyes burned into hers, searching, demanding. "Why would you gamble our company. your legacy, on the most dangerous man alive?"
The room grew heavy with the weight of his disapproval, the ticking clock on the mantel the only sound breaking the silence.
"Because a Saint doesn't falter or succumb," Kashi said firmly. Then she sighed, her voice softening. "You entrusted the company to me, Grandfather. We need this partnership. I'm asking you to trust me. This is my company too, Grandpa."
Grandfather James froze at her words, his stern expression softening just slightly, though the storm in his eyes hadn't completely cleared. He leaned back in his chair, exhaling a long, heavy sigh.
"You sound just like your mother," he muttered, shaking his head. "Stubborn, reckless… and damn persuasive."
Frank chuckled quietly by the fireplace, though he quickly looked away when James shot him a warning glare.
Turning back to Kashi, James rubbed a hand over his face, the weight of years etched deeply into the lines of his expression. "You're right. I gave you the reins, and maybe I forgot what that really meant. But, Kashi..." his voice lowered, rough with something closer to worry than anger, "if he so much as looks at you the wrong way, you walk. Do you understand me? No deal is worth your soul."
Frank finally spoke up, his voice calm and steady. "She'll be fine, sir. She's stronger than you think. And she's not walking into this meeting blind."
Grandfather James stared at Kashi for a long moment, then finally nodded, though his jaw remained tight. "Alright. Go make your play. But remember, when you sit across from that Riegrow boy, you're not just Kashi. You carry the weight of all of us."
The words lingered in the room long after he'd finished speaking, settling over her like both a warning and a blessing.