Aliana demanded, her tone growing sharper.

    Andrian sighed, clearly tired of being used.

    “Aliana, I’ve had more urgent issues bto /bdeal with, I’m handling everything at once. That bpainting /bjust wasn’t ba /bpriority for me.”

    na refused to hear any excuses. She stood abruptly, her face cold with rage.

    “Not a priority? That painting belonged to Alicia–it’s the only thing left of her that I have. You have no right to treat it like it doesn’t matter.”

    tit

    Andrian fell silent, stunned by the outburst. He knew the painting belonged to Alicia and that it meant something to Aliana, but he hadn’t expected her to react so emotionally over it. Deep down, guilt began to creep in.

    “I’m sorry.” Andrian said quietly, his eyes meeting hers, still full of anger. “I didn’t mean to dismiss it.”

    Aliana realized she had lost herposure. Slowly, her emotions began to settle, reced by exhaustion.

    “I want to see the painting now. Where is it?”

    Andrian shook his head.

    “bIt’s /bat home–in a secured room that only I can ess. I can’t leave the office right now, I have urgent work to finish.

    Aliana said nothing at first, her gaze turning bsharp /bagain–this time filled with disappointment. Andrian recognized that look. She was truly angry

    “I promise I’ll show it to you bwhen /bI return home tonight,” Andrian said, trying to ease the tension.

    Knowing there was no buse /bin pressing further, Aliana stood, her expression once again cold andposed.

    Ilwait for byou /bbat /bhome. I want to inspect the painting myself”

    Without another word, she turned and briskly left the room

    Andrian clenched his fists on the desk, his teeth grinding as a wave of mixed emotions surged within him.

    “Damnit That woman balways /bes and goes as she pleasesb!/bb” /b

    Meanwhile, elsewhere, at an upscale restaurant named Emerald Dining, not far from the Titan Group building, Bianca had begun executing her n to persuade board members who had yet to side with Andrian.

    Inside one of the exclusive VIP rooms, Bianca sat gracefully, legs crossed, her eyes fixed on the man seated across from her. That man was Edward Lowell, one of Titan Group’s senior board members–Infamously hard to persuade but wielding considerable influence over the rest of the board.

    Edward eyed Bianca with a scornful look, slowly stirring his coffee with a faint snort.

    “I didn’t expect Andrian to send you to lobby us one by one. Has he really grown so desperate that he’s sending a woman like you, Biancab?/bb” /b

    Bianca offered a faint smile, unfazed by Edward’s condescending tone. Tilting bher /bhead slightly, she remainedposed and calm.

    “Don’t misunderstand, Mr. Lowell,” Bianca said quietly but sharply. “I’m not here under Andrian’s orders. I’m simply here to share a perspective–that the project Andrian is bworking /bon could bring enorphous benefits. Not just for Titan bGroup/b, but for you personally.”

    Edward raised ban /beyebrow, bclearly /bskeptical,

    “Personal gain, you say? I’m not interested in empty promises, Bianca. Besides, what would someone like byou /bknow about business? You’re just a pretty essory to Andrian. Don’t get ahead of yourself”

    Bianca gave a faint, cold smile–just as she expected. Calmly, she took a brown envelope from her purse and ced it on the table in front of him.

    Edward eyed the envelope with suspicion, but Bianca got straight to the point

    #had hoped our meeting would be more refined, Mr. Lowell,” she said, sliding the envelope toward him. “But clearly, you only respond to clearernguage. Go ahead, open it.”

    Edward opened the envelope swiftly. His eyes widened bas /bhe looked at the contents–photos of himself meeting with individuals from a rivalpany to Titan Group. His face turned bright red with rage,

    “What is this supposed to mean? Are you threatening me, Bianca Edward’s voice brose/b. “You insolent woman! How dare you try to ckmail me like this?”

    Bianca remainedpletelyposed, her voice icy

    “What you think of me is irrelevant, Mr. Lowell All I want is your vote to support Andrian’s project.

    Edward let out a mockingugh. ollih. “So this is how low Andrian has sunk to protect his position? I’m disappointed–so this is the best he’s got /li/ol

    Bianca cut in sharply.

    “Andrian doesn’t know anything about this. I did it entirely on my own.”

    Edward narrowed his eyes in disbelief

    “I’m not a fool. Don’t try to y me with that story!

    Bianca held his gare, unshaken,

    “I don’t bcare /bif you believe me. What matters is that I want your vote in the uing vote. If not, those photos will find their bway /binto the hands of the shareholders. I’d bbe /bvery interested to see their reaction once they learn you’ve been meeting with ourpetitors behind bclosed /bdoors.”

    Edward clenched his fists on the table, his bface /breddening further. But he knew he bhad /bno other option. After a moment of silence, he finally gaye a begrudging bnod/b.

    “Fine,” Edward said with hate in bhis /bbvoice/b. “You win this timeb, /bBianca. I’ll vote for Andrian. But I won’t forget bwhat /byou’ve done today.”

    Without another word, Edward stood up roughly and stormed out of the room.

    The room fell into silence after bhis /bdeparture.

    Bianca leaned back in her chair with a satisfied smile, her gaze dotting to the window with a triumphant gleam in her eyes. In her mind, she began calcting the number of board members bwho /bbhad /bpledged support.

    There were 60 members on Titan Group’s board. So far, Bianca had secured key votes–including the three she had previously pressured: Randall Kent, Linda Moore, and Peter Choi, Now, with Edward Lowell added to the list–slong with several other naturally loyal supporters of Andrian–she had

    secured 19 votes.

    Bianca smiled slyly. She needed just 2 more votes to reach 35% support a crucial minority. She was confident those remaining votes could be obtained by the end of the day.

    Her smile widened. Nothing could stop her from paving the way for Andrian. She would do anything to remain by his side.

    But Bianca’s moment of victory was short–livedb. /bJust as she was enjoying her small triumph, Derek bapproached /bbwith /bba /bhesitant expression,

    “Miss Bianca,” Derek said cautiously, “there’s something byou /bshould know.”

    Bianca looked up, braising /ban eyebrow. “bWhat /bbis /bit?”

    Derek took ba /bslow breath before replying.

    “I just received word–Miss Aliana has returned to Zenith. She arrived this moming And this alternoon… she’s currently at thepany, meeting Mr.

    Andrian directly”

    Bianca’s blood seemed to freeze. Her gaze sharpened, and her hands clenched tightly. The joy she’d just felt evaporated, reced by a surge of uncontainable anger.

    *nca muttered furiously, rising abruptly from her seat. “How dare she try to cross me. We’re going back to the office. Now.”

    A few minutester…

    Upon arriving at Titan Group, Bianca strode swiftly toward Andrian’s office. bNadia/bb, /bnoticing her approach, rushed to intercept her, visibly anxious

    “I’m sorry, Miss… Mr. bAndrian /bis in ba /bmeeting.” Nadia said politely but nervously, trying to stop nca from barging in. “He left word that he cannot bbe /bdisturbed for the time being”

    Bianca furrowed her brow, ring at Nadia.

    “Is it true that Aliana came here earlier today? What did she want with Andrian?”

    Nadia shook her head quickly, hesitant.

    “I don’t know the bdetails/b, Miss. What I can say is that Miss bAna /bshowed up unexpectedly and went straight in to see Mr. Andrian. But she didn’t stay long –just a few minutes.”

    nca bt her lip, trying to suppress the storm of emotions rising within her. bShe /bbwas /bbfurious/b–especially knowing Aliana could walk in to see Andrian anytime, while she had to wait like this.

    Derek, standing behind Bianca, leaned in and whispered,

    “Miss, don’t forget–you have two more meetings with board members. We don’t have much time”

    bBianca /blet out a long breath, eyes still fixed on bAndrian’s /bclosed office door. Finally, she btook /bher phone from her bag and quickly typed a short message

    to Andrian

    Andrian, I know you’re busy, but how about dinner together tonight? I’ll wait for your reply.

    nca walted for several minutes, beyes /bglued to the screen. But there was no response.

    She sighed, a little disappointed, but tried to be understanding–Andrian was likely too focused on his mooting to reply. Turning to Derek with a resolute look, she bsaid/b:

    “Let’s go. Let’s get this done quickly.”

    Derek nodded without saying more, following, nca as she walked away, her heart burning with frustration and jealousy.

    Inside the elevator, nca made ba /bbsilent /bvow she wouldn’t give Aliana another chance to interfere with Andran. Tonight, she would make sure bAndrian /bwashers and hers alone.