Chapter 42

Natalia strode into her office, her stilettos clicking against the polished marble floor. She wore a crisp white blouse tucked into a high-waisted pencil skirt, her hair swept up in a sleek bun. She settled behind her desk and had barely opened her laptop when a soft knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," she called out, not looking up from her screen.

Nolan, her secretary, poked his head in. "Morning, boss. How'd it go with the Donovan Blake last night?"

She glanced up from her laptop. "Morning, Nolan. It went... interestingly."

Nolan stepped into the office. "Interestingly good or interestingly bad?"

She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. "Let's say a bit of both. Donovan's onboard but is only willing to invest 25% for now. Wants to see results before committing further."

"That's still a win, right?" he grinned, his enthusiasm infectious.

She nodded, allowing herself a moment of satisfaction. "It's a foot in the door. And trust me, once he sees what we can do, he'll