Chapter 2Thirty Days of Stranger

[Someone please tell her the older version is worth well over a hundred billion by now, LOL!]

I almost laughed out of sheer frustration.

Just then, a knock sounded at the office door.

My assistant, Gavin Whitmore, walked in holding a stack of documents. Seeing the tense standoff in the room, he hesitated for a fraction of a second before walking straight up to my desk.

"Sir, the counterparty on the Westside Project is holding firm at three point seven billion," Gavin reported, "Do we keep pushing for a price cut?"

Bianca snapped her head toward him.

"Why are you asking him?" she demanded.

Gavin looked visibly uncomfortable. "Miss Bennett, considering your... State over the past two weeks..."

He cleared his throat softly. "All major projects recently, including communications with the board, have been handled directly by Mr. Morgan."

Bianca opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Files were scattered all over the glass table, every single margin covered in my handwriting.

I slid the Westside Project folder directly over to her.

"You take it then," I said, "Three point seven billion. Do we push, or do we yield?"

She picked up the file and skimmed it. Within thirty seconds, her brows knotted into a tight scowl.

There was no shame in an eighteen-year-old high school kid being unable to understand high-level corporate acquisition contracts.

Clearly, though, Bianca didn't view it that way.

"Just because I don't understand it right now doesn't mean I won't get it later!" She slammed the contract back down onto the desk.

"Starting today, I'm running this company myself."

…

I gave a single nod. "You're free to take your time learning, but the tens of thousands of employees at Bennett Corporation can't wait ten years for you to catch up."

Bianca's face flushed a deep, violent red.

Connor instantly stepped up, taking her hand into his.

"I might not be as capable as Elliot, but I can help you review documents and organize files," he offered gently.

Bianca's eyes lit up.

"Then you do it," she said, turning to him, "From now on, you're the Vice President."

Connor waved his hands in exaggerated protest.

"Stop playing around, how could I do that?" he insisted, casting a cautious glance my way. "Elliot won't be happy about it."

I looked him dead in the eye. "The VP role isn't a vanity prize you hand out to sweet-talk your boyfriend."

Connor’s eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"If Elliot is concerned, I can start from an entry-level position," Connor said, his voice dropping to a vulnerable murmur, "I really just want to help Bianca."

Bianca immediately stepped in front of him, shielding him from my gaze.

"This is my company! If I say he's the Vice President, he's the Vice President!"

The text feed lit up the air again.

[Omg, this is pure eighteen-year-old devotion! She literally wants to give the male lead the world!]

[Why hasn't the side character left yet? He's been leeching off her money, her company, and her title, and now he won't even give up a VP spot?]

[When the older version comes back and sees her eighteen-year-old self fixed both her love life and career, she's going to be so grateful!]

I tightened my grip on the pen in my hand.

"Gavin."

"Yes, Sir."

"Process this appointment through standard corporate protocol with the board and legal department. Hold the vote, file the documentation, do everything by the book. Do not skip a single step just because it came straight from the CEO's mouth."

Bianca's head snapped up.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means what it means," I said, closing my laptop, "If you want to run the company, I won't stop you. But this business isn't a playground."

The thing she hated most was being treated like a child.

Predictably, she blew up the next second.

"Stop acting like you know everything!" she screamed.

"Gavin, revoke all his access right now! Approval rights, project authorization, keycard access to the executive floor—cut every single one of them!"

Gavin stood rooted to the spot, darting a quick look at me.

I knew what was making him hesitate.

If I didn’t give the word, he wouldn't carry out her orders.

However, Bianca was both the Chairwoman and CEO. If we got into a public screaming match in this office, tomorrow's financial headlines would be all about a power struggle between the Bennett power couple.

When corporate stock tanked, tens of thousands of employees would bear the brunt of it.

There was no reason to burn everything to the ground over a temporary fifteen-day glitch.

"Do as she says," I told Gavin.

"Sir..." Gavin muttered under his breath.

"It's fine."

I handed him the last file on my desk. "All my risk assessments for the Westside Project are inside. Pass them along to the project team."

With that, I picked up my jacket.

When I walked past Bianca, her jaw was clamped tight, holding her head high as if she had finally won a massive battle.

I didn't bother offering a single word of explanation.

Her eighteen-year-old self wouldn't get it anyway.

In addition, I had no intention of putting Connor in the middle of our crossfire.

Behind her, the corners of Connor’s mouth twitched upward in a smug smile.