Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
SOPHIE
I couldn’t help but recall the name once I saw it on the paper.
Atlas Telecom. Wasn’t this the one that Rafael remarked on during the last family dinner?
And if I get it correct, Viktor was thinking of closing the project.
But how could he when it had so much potential?
Why not try harder? I’d asked the same question to Ms. Lind, and her response was that some divisions were easier to close than to try to save.
And that Viktor didn’t have the time or enough trusted people to allocate to that division. There were much more important ones.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Atlas was focused on telecommunications.
And that was changing drastically. Ignoring it was stupid.
Though I could understand that with every invention, it was hard to follow the market’s needs.
It required constant attention to changing technologies.
Constant vigilance. At least that’s what I’d concluded from all the talks Rafael had been having over the last year. He’d talked about nothing else.
Would it be ethical if I tried this myself? Not that I knew exactly what he was doing, or that I’d be using his information against MoRen. Moreover, whatever I picked would have a competitor in Papa’s empire.
At least this one was floundering in Viktor’s. He was already determined to close it. It wouldn’t be a problem if I couldn’t manage it. And if I could, that would mean a lot. At least for me.
With that thought, I requested more details and asked Ms. Lind to help with a report. I thought she would be skeptical, but the fire in her eyes matched mine.
By the time Viktor returned, we’d managed to have a monthly plan with all risks and gains. And a solid proposal. What I didn’t have—normal sleep over the past few days. Though even without it, I wasn’t feeling tired.
It actually was the opposite. Energy was beaming through my veins.
“Good to be young.” Viktor let out a long sigh when I wanted to show him everything the moment he entered the house.
“Stop complaining. You’re not even thirty years old.”
“I will be in a few months!”
“That’s not an excuse. Go change your clothes. Then we can have dinner.”
“It’s eleven.”
“Late dinner.” I crossed my arms. “I prepared one!”
“You could have started with that part.” A smile lit his face. He looked at the stairs, then at the kitchen, and then his gaze went toward the bathroom on the first floor. “Give me a minute. I’ll wash my hands and be at your complete disposal.” He winked before disappearing.
I wanted to follow him. But of course, the bathroom was too much.
So I went to the kitchen and double-checked everything.
Ms. Hale had actually helped me, but the main dish I’d prepared myself.
So technically I hadn’t lied. I told Viktor as much when he entered the room.
His joy didn’t waver. And when he tried it, he only seemed happier.
I wasn’t. The meat was supposed to be more tender.
When I voiced my disappointment, Viktor shook his head.
“This is the best thing I’ve eaten.”
“Liar. Trying not to offend my feelings?”
“But I genuinely like it.” He took another bite. “Besides, what could be better than a meal made by your lovely wife after a long and painful trip?”
“Sly fox.”
He hid his laughter behind his hand and looked at me with the same warmth that I’d missed so much.
“So,” he said while reaching for his drink, “tell me—what project did you pick?”
I couldn’t control the excitement in my tone. “Atlas Telecom.”
The moment the words left my mouth, Viktor choked on his drink.
“Are you okay?” I reached toward him but stopped mid-way. Instead, I grabbed the napkins and handed them to him.
He took them, cleaning his mouth. “Yes, yes.” Then he looked at me without a hint of the joy that had been in his eyes a moment before.
“Is something wrong with Atlas?”
Pressing his tongue against the inside of his cheek, Viktor leaned back in his chair, the wet napkin still in his hand. “There are many units that are in better shape. Wouldn’t those be a better choice?”
“But Atlas has the most potential. Besides, you said you wanted to close it. Why can’t you give it a chance?”
“Your brother’s leading the market,” he said.
“And? It’s not like there’s a project that has no competition with any other from Moreau’s Group.” I pointed out my earlier conclusion.
“I know.” He wet his lips with the tip of his tongue.
My stomach tangled. “But?”
Viktor closed his eyes, not answering.
I decided for him instead. “But it’s complicated? I won’t understand?”
“What?” He looked back at me. “No! Not at all.”
“Then what? You told me to pick one of the projects I’d feel interested in.
I did. And now you’re telling me I can’t have it.
” I noticed the shaking in my palms, so I put them under the table.
Before Viktor could say something, I said, “You shouldn’t have told me to pick one when you were going to tell me—”
“You don’t need my permission to work on it,” he cut me off, but there wasn’t any aggression or anger in his voice. His voice softened. “I’m sorry—that came out wrong.”
“Oh…” I drew in a breath. “But you’re not approving of that choice.”
“It’s not that I’m not.” He turned his head to the right, and I couldn’t understand the discomfort in his voice. “Remember I told you men love to complicate things?”
I blinked at him.
“I am doing exactly that right now!” He straightened into his initial position, took his fork, and focused on the food. “Atlas, then Atlas. You have my full support—both as your husband and as your business adviser.”
“What’s the difference?” I frowned, still shocked by how fast he’d agreed given his initial reaction.
He shrugged, focusing on the meal.
But I couldn’t stand the silence. “You won’t look at the monthly plan I prepared? I believe there’s also restructuring needed.” In fact, I was a bit offended. I’d worked on that document day and night!
He looked at me, chewing, but this time the absence of an answer didn’t bother me as the joyfulness returned to his eyes.
“I would love to know where you get all that energy.”
I rolled my eyes but let it slide. After all, with all his teasing, he was probably exhausted.