57. Margot
57
MARGOT
T he boardroom at Perfectly Matched has never felt thischarged. Even after everything we’ve been through, the battles, the betrayals, the victories, this moment feelsdifferent. Not like a fight for survival, but like the beginning of something muchbigger. Something we never saw coming. Cassian Laurent wants toexpand Perfectly Matched . Not just a small expansion. Not just dipping our toes into international waters. He wants to take itglobal.
The boardroom is the epitome of sleek sophistication, designed to impress and command authority. The long mahogany table gleams under the warm recessed lighting, the rich wood polished to perfection. The space is quiet except for the subtle hum of the city below, and the faint clicking of Olivia’s nails against her tablet as she reviews her notes. The scent of fresh espresso lingers in the air from the untouched cups of coffee placed in front of us, the steam curling softly.
Cassian, naturally, has taken the seat at the head of the table. Ofcoursehe has. He sits with an effortless kind of confidence, his navy three-piece suit impeccable, his crisp white dress shirt unbuttoned just enough to suggest he enjoys power but never plays by the rules. His platinum watch catches the light as he rests an elbow on the chair’s armrest, his fingers drumming lazily against the table as if this meeting is merely an interesting way to pass the time. Isabella sits beside him, her emerald green silk blouse draping elegantly over her frame, the deep color making her golden hair appear even more luminous. Her lips, painted a striking shade of red, are pursed slightly as she skims the proposal on her tablet, her expression unreadable. Across from them, Grayson is the picture of controlled power. His navy suit is sharply tailored, his tie knotted with precision, and his sleeves rolled just slightly at the cuffs, revealing a glimpse of his watch. His posture is relaxed but commanding, his blue eyes coldly assessing the situation. I sit beside him, my arms crossed, my mind already working through the possibilities. Olivia, seated across from me, is as polished as ever, her navy pantsuit perfectly tailored, her blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail that screams efficiency. She’s scanning the contract with sharp eyes, looking for weaknesses, potential risks, anything Cassian might be hiding.
Cassian leans back in his chair, his smirk widening as he takes in the room. “Well,” he says smoothly, his voice dripping with amusement, “let’s talk about making history.”
“Right now, Perfectly Matched is an empire,” he begins, his voice carrying an easy confidence. “But it’s an empire withboundaries, borders that limit its reach. And that, my friends, is awasteof potential.”
I arch a brow. “And you thinkyouhave the key to breaking those boundaries?”
Cassian grins, as if he absolutely does. “I don’t think, Evans. I know.”
Grayson exhales sharply, his gaze locked on Cassian. “So tell us. What exactly are you proposing?”
Cassian leans back, his tone casual but deliberate. “Simple. We take Perfectly Matched international. London, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, exclusive matchmaking for the ultra-wealthy and powerful. We openluxury matchmaking salonsin these key locations, accessible only to the elite. Private events. Curated matches.Personalized perfection.”
Isabella chimes in smoothly, her voice carrying the weight of someone who knows the power of exclusivity. “This isn’t just about expansion. This is aboutdomination. You don’t justaddlocations, you buildmonumentsto exclusivity. Perfectly Matched wouldn’t just be a company. It would be alegacy.”
A heavy silence follows, thick with the weight of the offer.
I tap my fingers against the table, my mind racing. “You’re talking about acomplete shiftin our brand identity.”
Cassian nods. “I am. Because the truth is, matchmaking isevolving. Right now, you have astrongholdon the industry. But in ten years? Someoneelsecould. I’m offering you the chance to ensure Perfectly Matched remains untouchable.”
Grayson’s voice is calm but sharp. “And what doyouget out of this?”
Cassian smirks. “A cut of the empire, naturally. I’d be an investor. A partner.” He tilts his head slightly. “And, let’s be honest, Ienjoyshaking things up.”
I exhale, my mind already processing the weight of the decision. “So you fund the expansion, and in return, you get a stake in Perfectly Matched .”
Cassian nods. “Exactly.”
Silence stretches across the table as Grayson and I absorb the magnitude of the proposal.
Grayson finally turns to me. “What do you think?”
I exhale, trying to measure my words carefully. “It’s ambitious. It could eitherskyrocket Perfectly Matched to a level we’ve never imagined… or it could betoo much, too fast.”
Cassian tilts his head, amusement glinting in his eyes. “That sounds like achallenge, Evans.”
I smirk. “Everything with you is a challenge, Laurent.”
He winks. “And yet, you neverback down.”
Grayson clears his throat, clearlydonewith Cassian’s antics. “We need time to consider.”
Cassian shrugs, reaching for his espresso. “Take your time. But nottoomuch. Opportunities like this don’twait.”
Isabella gives him a sidelong glance, her expression unreadable. “For once, Laurent’s right.”
Cassian turns to her, grinning. “You should say thatmore often.”
She exhales, rubbing her temples. “Don’t push it.”
I suppress a laugh, while Grayson simply sighs.
Cassian leans back in his chair, completely unfazed. “Take the weekend. Think about it. But let’s be honest, you alreadyknowthis is the right move.” And with that, the meeting isover.
Later that evening, back at the penthouse, Grayson and I sit on the balcony, a bottle of wine between us. The night air is crisp, the lights of the city stretching infinitely before us, painting the skyline with promise and pressure.
I take a slow sip of my wine, the glass cool against my fingers. “What if we say yes?”
Grayson watches me carefully, his fingers drumming lightly against his glass. “Then everything changes.”
I nod, the gravity of that truth settling between us like the final move in a high-stakes chess match. “Are we ready for that?”
He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he studies me with that unreadable, too-intense gaze of his before setting his glass down and turning toward me fully. “Areyou?”
I exhale, letting the breeze hit my face, thinking of everything we’ve fought for. The company. Each other. The ridiculous battles and stupid grudges that led us here. “Yes,” I say finally, my voice firm. “Yes, I am.”
A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, and he leans back in his chair, looking far too smug. “That sounded surprisingly decisive. Should I be concerned?”
“You should always be concerned when I sound decisive,” I say, shooting him a look. “It usually means I’m about to do something reckless.”
“Like sleep with your business rival?” he teases, swirling the wine in his glass.
I raise a brow. “You meandate,co-run a company with, andfall inconveniently in love withmy business rival?”
His grin deepens. “That one.”
I roll my eyes, fighting the smile threatening to break across my face. “You’re lucky you’re hot.”
He clinks his glass against mine. “I’ve been saying that for years.”
We fall into a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes when the tension has given way to trust. But of course, it doesn’t last long.
“Cassian’s going to be a handful,” I murmur, resting my chin on my hand. “And Isabella? I can’t tell if she’s going to stab us in the back or save us from ourselves.”
Grayson chuckles. “Maybe both. But honestly, I don’t hate the idea. The salons, the exclusivity, it’s smart. He’s right about the direction the industry is going.”
I glance sideways at him. “Did you just admit Cassian Laurent might be right about something?”
He groans. “Don’t make me repeat it. I’m already emotionally scarred.”
I laugh, and he reaches over, sliding his hand over mine, grounding me in that quiet, steady way he always does when the world feels too loud.
“This is bigger than anything we’ve done before,” I say softly.
He nods. “Which is exactly why we do it together.”
I tilt my head, studying him in the glow of the city lights. “No cold feet?”
“Only when you make me watch period dramas without subtitles.”
“That was one time.”
“It wasfourtimes. And you kept pausing to explain historical context.”
I press a hand to my heart. “I was enriching your cultural understanding.”
He leans in, brushing his lips against my temple. “And I love you for it. Even if Cassian’s global domination pitch makes me want to throw him off a yacht.”
I smirk. “We’ll make him work for it.”
“We’ll make everyone work for it.”
Our fingers intertwine over the wine bottle between us, and for the first time all day, I feel something steady settle in my chest. Not fear or pressure, just excitement and a new beginning.
“Okay,” I whisper. “Let’s build an empire.”
He squeezes my hand. “Let’s make it untouchable.”
And just like that, the future begins, with a smirk, a challenge, and the person I never thought I’d be doing this with, but wouldn’t dare do it without.