Chapter 17
Half an hour later, Hannah stood before the Keystone Group building.
When she had been expected to join the Rosenberg Group, no one had batted an eye; her skills were more than a match for it. But when she ended up at a small firm instead, headhunters had constantly tried to poach her. They had only given up after she had been there for a while, realizing she wasn’t going to leave.
The news of her dramatic resignation had spread quickly, and the headhunters had come calling again, asking about her plans, her desired salary, and her preferred firms.
Even though Hannah had politely declined all offers, they persisted, some even telling her to name her price.
Among them was an offer from Yves Lancaster.
Yves was the sole heir to the Lancaster Group. At just twenty-four, he had taken over the subsidiary, Keystone Group, and boosted its annual revenue from an average of forty billion to nearly sixty billion, with projections to break seventy billion this year.
The receptionist, already informed of her arrival, greeted Hannah warmly and escorted her to a private elevator.
Just as she reached the office, Yves was finishing a meeting.
He still had that roguish air about him, a perfectly tailored suit failing to conceal his rebellious spirit. His handsome face was framed by a pair of sharp, light brown eyes that immediately settled on her.
“I was starting to think you weren’t coming,” he said, sprawling on the sofa with his arms draped over the back. “After three years at that small firm, did you finally realize you’re a diamond that belongs in a bigger setting p>
Hannah sat across from him, unable to read the young tycoon’s intentions. “Perhaps p>
Yves raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on his lips as he noted the fatigue in her eyes. “Well, since you’re here, I assume you’ve accepted my offer. You can name your terms, but I have one condition p>
Hannah looked up slowly. “Which is p>
“You can’t resign without my permission.” He leaned forward, his half-lidded eyes like those of a predator sizing up its prey. “Hannah, I don’t know what’s going on in your life, but my company isn’t your temporary hideout p>
Their families were acquaintances, and although Lionel had kept his marriage a secret, rumors had circulated among the city’s elite.
In their world, nothing stayed hidden for long.
Hannah’s heart skipped a beat. “So if the pay and conditions here worsen, I’m not allowed to leave? Mr. Lancaster, that’s a rather tyrannical clause p>
“You know I’m not that kind of person,” he replied.
Hannah fell silent. She knew he wasn’t.
Seeing her hesitation, Yves motioned for his secretary to bring over the contract.
“Sign it,” he said, offering her a fountain pen.
After a moment’s thought, Hannah took the pen and signed her name.
The clause was indeed restrictive, but she had a feeling it might one day be her saving grace.
Once the contract was signed, Yves
handed her a case file. “Perfect
timing. This case is right up your
alley you’ll accompany me to a
meeting
hout it later
Hannah took the file and followed an assistant to her new desk, where she began to review the case.
Someone had started a rumor online that Yves wasn’t a biological son of the Lancaster family, that he was an outsider who had stawed his way to the top and pushed out the rightful heir.
No wonder he said it was her specialty.
When Lionel was first acknowledged by the Rosenberg family, similar rumors had circulated, trying to block his entry into the family business. It was Hannah who had gathered the evidence, taken the
slanderers to court, and cleared his name.