<h4>Chapter 39: Poise</h4>


    Anna’s POV


    I watched Samuel’s face carefully as I leaned slightly forward, my voice deliberately casual despite the weight of my words.


    "Simpson Group wants to secure Skke District, which isn’t particrly difficult for them. But Mr.Griffin, what you may not know is that there’s a historic building in Skke that belongs to a private owner. For Simpson Group to develop Skke, they must first resolve the issue of this building."


    I intentionally left my words hanging, noting with satisfaction how Samuel’s eyes sparked with interest. He set down his ss slowly, studying me with newfound attention.


    "And this building is significant because...?" he prompted, his tone still dismissive but his bodynguage betraying his curiosity.


    "Whoever controls that historic property essentially controls the development rights to the most valuable section of Skke District," I exined, taking a small sip of water to ease my still-burning throat.


    Samuel nced at Logan, then back at me. "So what you’re saying is— whoever gets this building, gets Skke?"


    "More or less," I answered vaguely, calcting my next move carefully. I needed to hook him without appearing desperate.


    His eyes narrowed as he leaned back in his chair. "I see. And you two-" he gestured between Logan and me with his fork, "—you’re both interested in this Skke project together?"


    "Mr. Griffin is quite perceptive," I conceded, deciding to drop all pretense. "Yes, I am the owner of that historic building. It’s my mother’s family ancestral home, already in my name. If you’re interested, we could potentially coborate."


    Samuel’s lips curled into something between a smile and a sneer.


    "Coborate? With you? What was your name again? Anna... something?


    I apologize, but I’ve never heard of any prominent Shaw family in Skyview City."


    My throat tightened at the deliberate slight, but I maintained my smile. He knew I needed him more than he needed me, and he was making sure I felt it. But I’d developed a thick skin over years in business, so I only smiled more brightly.


    "Shaw Corp certainly can’tpare to Simpson Group," I admitted. The decision was immediate. "But the Simpson family will undoubtedly take the lion’s share of any partnership.


    You surely didn’te all the way from Sovereign City just to pick up scraps from someone else’s table, did you?"


    Samuel’s eyebrow arched slightly.


    "Why bring in a partner at all? Why not develop it myself?"


    "There’s a saying-outsiders struggle to navigate local markets," I responded confidently, raising an eyebrow with a self-assured smile that I knew conveyed both confidence and challenge.


    Samuel studied me for a long moment before standing up. "Interesting proposition, Ms. Shaw. But if you want me on board, you’ll need to prove your worth."


    With that, he nodded curtly at Logan.


    "Porter, good seeing you. I’ll be in town for a few days. We’ll talk again."


    As soon as the door closed behind him, my face copsed into exhaustion. I slumped back in my chair, directing a frustrated re at Logan.


    Logan pushed a ss of water toward me, concern evident in his expression.


    "If I’d known about your previous... encounter, I never would have arranged this meeting."


    "Don’t worry about me," I waved dismissively. "I have Rachel to handle things. Besides, if he’s truly interested in Skke, he’ll think carefully about what I said tonight. "


    "I’ve already spent the entire evening pretending to be nice," I sighed, fatigue evident in my voice. "When you’re the one asking for favors, you have to perform well enough to make others willing to invest."


    Logan nodded sympathetically. As the waiter cleared our barely-touched meals, I hesitated before asking the question that had been lingering in my mind.


    "By the way, Logan, are you truly not interested in Skke?"


    His eyes softened as he looked at me.


    "Didn’t I already tell you? If you need additional capital, I’ll help you raise it."


    A warmth spread through my chest at his words. In a business world where loyalty was as rare as genuine


    altruism, Logan’s steadfast support was something I’de to treasure.


    As we walked toward the exit, he lightly tapped my forehead with his knuckles a gesture so familiar it immediately transported me back to our childhood, when we were neighbors and he’d do the same thing whenever I said something he found amusing or naive.


    I rubbed my forehead with exaggerated indignation. "Stop hitting me. We’re not kids anymore."


    Hisugh echoed in the quiet hallway.


    "Some things never change, Annie."


    That night, I dreamed of my father.


    We were at a charity g, simr to the ones I now attended regrly, but everything felt slightly distorted. My father stood in a corner, dressed impably as always, but somehow smaller than I remembered him.


    My heart ached as I watched other business leaders barely acknowledge him, offering perfunctory nods before moving on to more "important" conversations. Though my father’s smile never faltered, I could see the tension in his shoulders, the subtle strain around his eyes. The powerful executives circted through the room, gravitating toward the Simpson and Murphy patriarchs while treating my father as though he were invisible.


    I woke with a start, my heart pounding against my ribs, a cold sweat coating my skin. The darkness of my bedroom at Goldenleaf Manor pressed around me, but the feeling of determined anger lingered.


    Iy awake until dawn, my resolve hardening with each passing hour.


    Shaw Corp would not be erased. I would not allow it.


    "Find out Samuel Griffin’s preferences," I instructed Rachel as we drove toward Shaw Tower the next morning. "You’l personally oversee all arrangements for him these next few days. Don’t worry about the cost-just make sure he’s satisfied."


    Rachel hesitated, her fingers hovering over her tablet. "Ms. Shaw, I discovered something else. There’s someone in Skyview City he’s... involved with. Apparently, she apanies him whenever he visits.


    She’s quite a well-known socialite here, though you two move in different circles so you’ve never crossed paths."


    I immediately looked up, my interest piqued. "Who?"


    "Nora Price."


    Anna’s POV


    "Nora would be perfect for entertaining Samuel Griffin," I mused . "Her poise, her ability to navigate even the most awkward social situations..." I trailed off, already mentally calcting how to approach her.


    Rachel cleared her throat softly. "There might be a slight problem with that n, Ms. Shaw. ording to her social media, Ms. Price left for Paris yesterday. Fashion Week. She won’t be back for at least three days."


    I let out an exasperated sigh. "Of course she did. Nothing can ever be simple, can it?" I drummed my fingers against the desk, recalibrating. "Find someone else then. Someone sophisticated, beautiful, capable of handling delicate situations.


    We need to keep Samuel Griffin thoroughly entertained while he’s in Skyview City."


    Rachel nodded, already typing notes.


    "T’llpile a shortlist by this afternoon."


    "Good. Now, for the quarterly meeting _"


    My phone vibrated against the desk, the screen lighting up with an iing call. The name disyed made my stomach drop: Samuel Griffin.


    I nced at the conference room visible through my office’s ss wall, where Daniel Davis was already organizing the quarterly review meeting. Perfect timing, as always.


    "I need to take this," I told Rachel, waving her toward the door. "Tell Daniel to start without me."


    As soon as Rachel left, I took a deep breath,posed myself, and answered with my most professionally pleasant voice. "Mr. Grifin, what a pleasant surprise."


    "Is it?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Because I’m not feeling particrly pleasant at the moment.


    The amodation your assistant arranged is... disappointing."


    I bit back a retort. Rachel had booked him into one of Skyview City’s most exclusive boutique hotels. "I’m terribly sorry to hear that. We can certainly arrange alternative lodging. Perhaps the Sapphire Sky Hotel? Their presidential suite is quite spectacr."


    "It’s not about the money, Ms. Shaw." I could practically hear him rolling his eyes. "I’s about hospitality. You extend an invitation to discuss business, yet you pawn me off on hotel staff rather than showing proper courtesy yourself."


    *This entitled asshole.* I kept my expression neutral even though he couldn’t see me.


    "Jack Simpson called yesterday," he continued casually. "Invited me for drinks to discuss Skke District. Very attentive, wouldn’t you say?"


    My grip tightened on the phone. The message couldn’t have been clearer: y by my rules, or I’ll take my business to Simpson Group.


    "You’re absolutely right, Mr. Griffin.


    My hospitality has beencking." I smoothed my voice into something conciliatory. "’a be happy toe by personally. What time would be convenient for you?"


    "Now would be good," he replied without hesitation.


    I nced at the conference room, where executives were already settling in for the meeting I was supposed to lead. "Of course. I’ll be there shortly.


    And I’ll bring some exceptional wine from my personal collection."


    "Perfect."


    "T’ll see you soon," I said, already nning my strategy as I hung up.


    My expression hardened the moment the call ended. Samuel Griffin wasn’t just testing my interest in a potential partnership—he was testing the limits of what I would tolerate.


    I nced at the conference room again. Rachel was out running errands, and Daniel was busy with the meeting.


    Who could I bring along? Going alone was out of the question.


    *Sean.*


    I headed to my office’s discreet liquor cab, selecting two bottles of the premium vintage I’d been saving for a special asion. Then I grabbed my purse and keys, shooting a quick text to Sean asking him to meet me at the Phoenix project office in fifteen minutes.


    When I pulled up to the Phoenix building, Sean was already waiting outside, looking impable in his tailored suit.


    "Get in," I instructed as I stopped the car.


    Sean slid into the passenger seat without question.


    "Samuel Griffin is being difficult," I exined as I pulled back into traffic.


    "He wants me to personally entertain him at his hotel. We’re going there now."


    "The Heritage Group heir?" Sean’s eyebrows rose slightly. "I’ve heard he can be... challenging."


    I let out a shortugh. "That’s putting it mildly. He’s arrogant, entitled, and absolutely crucial to our ns for Skke District. So we’re going to smile and be charming, no matter what."


    Sean nodded, eyes forward as I navigated through downtown traffic.


    "I may need to drink with him," I continued, my voice taking on a more serious tone. "You’re not there to help me avoid alcohol-that would only insult him. You’re there for my safety and to ensure I get home afterward.


    Understood?"


    "Completely, Ms. Shaw."


    When Samuel Griffin opened the door to his presidential suite at the hotel, he was wearing nothing but a white hotel towel wrapped loosely around his waist. His hair was wet, droplets of water still clinging to his broad shoulders, making it abundantly clear he’d just stepped out of the shower.


    I kept my smile firmly in ce, refusing to show even a flicker of difort. "Mr. Griffin, I hope we’re not interrupting." I extended the wine bottles toward him like a peace offering.


    His eyes moved from me to Sean, lingering on him with obvious assessment before his lips curved into a smirk. "Bringing reinforcements, Ms Shaw? Your reputation for poor alcohol tolerance must be well-earned."


    I maintained my pleasant expression.


    "This is Sean Smith, my assistant. He’s driving today."


    Samuel stepped aside to let us enter, making no move to dress more appropriately. "What happened to the other guy? The one who had me thrown out of the charity g? You seem to change malepanions quite frequently."


    I took a slow breath, keeping my voice level. "That was Marcus Murphy, a family elder. He’s my little uncle."


    "Little uncle?" Samuel repeated with exaggerated interest, his eyes drifting to Sean. "And this one? Another rtive? Ms. Shaw?"


    "Mr. Smith is my assistant," I repeated calmly. "He’s responsible for driving and carrying things." I set my purse down on a nearby table. "But you’re right about appreciating aesthetics, Mr. Griffin. I believe we share that quality.


    Your reputation precedes you."


    He nodded disapprovingly, then ripped off his swimming towel in front of me, turning to walk toward the indoor pool that dominated one side of the massive suite.


    "Care to join me for a swim?" he called over his shoulder.


    I kept my eyes carefully fixed on his face. "I’m afraid I didn’t bring a swimsuit. Perhaps I can prepare some tea while you enjoy your swim?"


    He shrugged, diving gracefully into the water. "Suit yourself."


    I exhaled slowly once he was in the pool, recalling what Trevor Torres had mentioned about Samuel Griffin: *He pushes boundaries constantly, but he knows exactly where the line is. He’ll never cross it, just dance right along the edge.*


    The sound of a knock at the door came as a wee interruption. Hotel staff entered with a rolling cart of lunch and wine. I directed them to set up near the pool area but intercepted the server who was about to ce a vase of red roses as the centerpiece.


    "No roses, thank you," I said quietly, handing the arrangement back.


    As the staff departed, Samuel emerged from the pool, toweling his hair dry but once again wearing only the hotel towel around his waist. Watching him approach, something strange happened —a sh of memory hit me so suddenly I almost gasped.


    *A different suite. A different man.


    Stepping out of a bathroom, towel around his waist, water droplets on powerful shoulders.*