Vivienne’s Point of View
“It’s Vivienne Terrence!”
The flashes from numerous cameras were blinding but I was unfazed as I walked up the stairs, my bodyguards on either side of me keeping the press at bay.
“Miss Terrence, is closing today’s deal opening the expansion plan of the Terrences into America?” One called out.
“Are you going to be named heiress of the Terrences?”
“Miss Terrence, will we be seeing more of Gia as the face of Terrence’s Corporation?”
I stepped inside the office building, my guards closing the door behind me.
My assistant, Christy, was waiting, files in arm.
“This deal was supposed to be private. Who tipped off the press?” I demanded.
Christy let out a sigh, handing over the Risal file to me.
“Mrs Isle said the publicity would help with the launch.” She said.
Isle Terrence was a ruthless boss as she had been an absent mother. Although that hadn’t exactly been her fault.
“Of course she did,” I said, taking the file and flipping through it.
As expected, the Risals were angling for a higher cut than they were due. Typical.
I glanced at the press still taking pictures through the see-through glass panels of the door and a sliver of discomfort went up my spine.
I hated the cameras and the questions. They reminded me of my past life.
A life I had already forgotten.
“Get rid of them,” I said, inclining my head towards the press before heading towards the conference room, Christy on my heels.
“Would you like to see what I have gathered on Winona and Sayfer?” Christy asked, slightly out of breath from trying to keep up with me.
I handed the proposal file back to her.
“Thank you for your help, Christy, but I won’t be needing it.”
I’d studied the Risals well. I always did before a meeting. Vivienne Terrence never went to close a deal blindsided from any angle.
Christy nodded.
“Of course, Miss Terrence.”
I stepped into the conference room.
The Risals stood up to greet me.
Winona, the older Risal, was the powerhouse and backbone of their business. Beautiful and poised as any aristocrat from old money, one look at her chilly blue eyes and one couldn’t mistake her for anything, a businesswoman who could possibly rival Isle in terms of shrewdness.
Sayfer Risal on the other hand was as vulgar as I’d heard.
His lascivious gaze raked down my body as he stepped forward with an outstretched hand.
“You are more beautiful in person.” He rasped, his voice lowering in a lewd mimicry of intimacy.
Sayfer was one of those men who believed a woman’s only place was at home, barefoot and pregnant or more preferably beneath him.
“You are as impolite as they say,” I said as I sidestepped him moving towards his aunt leaving Sayfer gaping at me.
Winona acknowledged me with a nod.
“Pleased to meet you, Miss Terrence.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Mrs Risal,” I said, returning the nod before gesturing at our empty seats. “Shall we begin?”
“Twenty percent.”
“Fifteen percent.”
Sayfer’s face was flushed red from anger and disbelief.
“Terrence Holdings needs this deal, you won’t get a better bargain than this.” He bit out.
“Ten percent,” I said without batting an eyelid. “The Wilfords are ready to go with eight and I have a meeting with them in the next,” I checked my watch. “Fifteen minutes.”
Sayfer got to his feet slamming his fist on the table angrily.
“Who do you think you are?” He growled. “We have been in this business for decades, you can’t just waltz in here and insult-”
But before he could finish Winona interrupted him.
“Sit, Sayfer.” She said calmly, speaking for the first time since we had begun the renegotiation of terms.
Sayfer hesitated, visibly disgruntled, but he sat anyway and Winona’s piercing blue gaze shifted to me.
“Twelve percent with an option of a contract review in three years.” She said.
I considered it.
The Wilfords wanted a smaller percentage cut hence they were the obviously cheaper option however they weren’t a household name like the Risals were.
“Make it five years and we have a deal.” I conceded.
If I didn’t know better, I would have said Winona Risal almost seemed impressed.
“You aren’t at all what I expected, Miss Terrence.” She said her voice was still calm and level as she signed the contract.
“It is good doing business with you, Mrs Risal,” I said with a small bow then I was out of the room, Christy at my side.
“What’s next on my agenda?” I asked.
Christ adjusted her glasses and flipped through the notepad she held.
“A business meeting with the Wilfords, an official press release at noon, lunch with the Queens, and the school recital by two pm.” She said and I paused midstep.
“The recital is today?” I asked but I didn’t need her to respond.
Of course, it was.
I couldn’t count how many times Gia had reminded me about it yet with my busy schedule, it had just slipped from my mind.
I had a few hours to get through my workload, but I could still make it in time, right?
“You. Are. Late.” Gia spelled out, her gray eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as she stood hands on her waist blocking the way to my seat.
“Mommy loves you too.” I teased dropping into a crouch to drop a kiss on either of her pink cheeks.
Gia pouted, refusing to be appeased so easily. Then Gia’s pout gave way to the beautiful smile that had gotten her a million-dollar contract for modeling children’s clothing.
She raised her hands indicating she wanted me to carry her and I obliged, balancing her on my hip.
“Leo is going to do so well,” Gia said, with unwavering conviction. “He’s a pro… pro…”
“Prodigy?” I guessed, leaning in to kiss the little furrow that had formed between her eyebrows.
Gia nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes, that.”
Then she shifted in my arms looking behind me, her face transforming with unrestrained glee.
“Granny!” She yelled, scrambling to climb down my body.
“Granny!”
I let her go and she went flying right into Isle’s arms, my mom chuckling next to them.
While Gia loved both of her grandmothers, no one could miss the fact that she and Isle were thicker than thieves.
“Oh, my little terrorist.” Isle crooned tickling Gia.
Gia giggled, holding her arms out for Mom to carry her as well. I smiled, shaking my head. Between both of them, it was a wonder Gia wasn’t spoiled rotten.
A warm velvety voice came from right behind me.
“I guess this might be the wrong time to congratulate you on closing the deal with Winona Risal?”
I spun to see a familiar blond man with the kindest forest green eyes towering over me and holding a bouquet of red roses.