Chapter 54

Ian's POV

The sales report trembled in my hands, its numbers burning into my retinas like acid. StarRiver's new clothing line had captured over a third of our market share in Manhattan. The thought made my jaw clench.

I slammed the report onto my desk, sending ripples through my coffee.

"Mr. Whitmore?" The markerting manager's voice quavered from the doorway. "The complete competitor analysis you requested."

"Come in." I straightened my tie, a habit from years of board meetings. The young man placed a thick folder on my desk with trembling hands.

As I flipped through the glossy pages, my breath caught. The designs were... exceptional. Innovative silhouettes, perfect proportions, masterful use of fabric and form. And Eleanor Yates proved surprisingly dedicated. Whether in public or on her private social media accounts, she frequently discussed StarRiver Fashion, praising their designs enthusiastically.

The combination of positive word-of-mouth and strong design quality instantly thrust StarRiver Group into the spotlight, capturing everyone's attention. After seeing, My stomach churned.

"Who's their new designer?" I kept my voice carefully controlled.

"That's the thing, sir..." He shifted uncomfortably. "It's Nina Sinclair."

The name hit like a physical blow. Nina. My fingers tightened on the folder's edge until my knuckles went white.

"And no one thought to mention this development earlier?" Ice dripped from every word. "We've been hemorrhaging market share to StarRiver for weeks, and you're just now telling me that?"

"Sir, we didn't realize-"

"Exactly. You didn't realize. You didn't think." I rose slowly from my chair, enjoying how he shrank back. "That's not what I pay you for, is it?"

After he scurried out, I pulled out my phone. Nina answered on the second ring.

"What game are you playing?" I demanded without preamble.

"Ian." Her voice held that familiar sweetness that had always set my teeth on edge. "I was wondering when you'd call."

"Cut the act. Why are you helping Serena?" I couldn't contain my anger as I watched Nina try to play innocent.

"I had no idea it would blow up like this," she said with helplessness. "I was just designing randomly at first, but she kept rejecting everything. I had no choice but to follow her demands. I never imagined it would be this successful."

"You should have told me beforehand," I snapped, unable to hide my fury.

"You didn't warn me about Serena wanting to sign Eleanor Yates, nor about StarRiver Fashion's major overhaul. Don't you understand, Nina? We're supposed to be family!"

"Have you completely lost your mind?" I couldn't help but explode.

Nina's words came out slow and deliberate: "StarRiver Fashion's success might not be such a bad thing after all."

The words stopped me cold. I looked out my office window at the gathering dusk, mind racing. "What exactly are you saying?"

"You're angry." Her tone turned cool. "I don't appreciate that. Call me back when you're ready to have a civilized conversation."

The line went dead.

I stood there, phone still pressed to my ear, as the pieces began shifting in my mind. I paced restlessly in my study. The conversation with Nina from moments ago kept replaying in my mind. I'd lost my temper. Running a hand through my hair, I glanced at my phone, its screen still dark. Had I pushed too hard?

My fingers hovered over the dial pad before I made the call. Nina answered on the second ring, her voice carefully neutral.

"I apologize for earlier," I said, keeping my tone gentle. "I spoke harshly because I worry about you. You're too loyal sometimes - even when Serena's clearly using you."

A pause. I waited, letting the tension stretch.

"You think I'm that naive?" Nina finally responded, her voice carrying an edge. "That I don't see what's happening at StarRiver?"

I settled into my leather chair, interest piqued. "What do you mean?"

"The brand's riding high right now. All positive press, growing sales..." She trailed off meaningfully. "But you know how quickly things can change in fashion."

My grip tightened on the phone. "Internal reshuffling won't hurt StarRiver's reputation."

"Maybe not StarRiver's," Nina agreed. "But Serena's personal reputation... that's different."

I sat up straighter. "We can't use my reputation as ammunition. The social fallout-"

"Remember those photos I sent you?"

The words hung in the air. Those photos - tastefully compromising, perfectly framed for misinterpretation. I'd been shocked when Nina first shared them, insisted we couldn't use them. But now...

"It's not right," I said, but my protest sounded weak even to my own ears.

Nina's laugh was soft, knowing. "Was it right when she humiliated you? When she threw away everything we'd built?" She paused. "Besides, this is business. We wait until production costs are committed, then strike. No loans, no expansion. The company becomes vulnerable."

I found myself nodding, mind racing ahead to possibilities. "And then..."

"And then we step in to 'save' it. All very proper and businesslike."

The plan unfurled in my mind like a blooming flower, elegant in its simplicity.

"You're brilliant," I said, meaning it. "We should announce our engagement soon, show a united front-"

"Not yet," she cut in smoothly. "Let's focus on the plan first. Timing is everything."

"Of course." I smiled into the darkness. "You're absolutely right, darling. As always."

We exchanged a few more endearments before ending the call. Sitting in my darkened study, I felt a thrill of anticipation.