Sweet Love 2x: Miss Ruthless CEO for our Superstar Uncle

Chapter 424: Are You Angry?

Dessert was served, and Lily’s interrogation of Harvey Chen finally paused long enough for her to eat it.

The sweet was some kind of custard tart, golden and fragrant, and both twins applied themselves to it the way children do when they have been talking for an hour and finally have permission to stop. Leo ate his in careful, precise bites. Lily finished hers in approximately thirty seconds and immediately asked if there was more.

"After you digest that one," Aunt Estella said. "You’ll make yourself sick."

"I won’t get sick. I have a very strong stomach."

"You have a very impatient stomach. Sit with Leo and watch television for a while."

Lily sighed the sigh of the thoroughly put-upon, but she slid off her chair and joined Leo on the couch. The television flickered on: some Rohan cartoon with brightly colored characters, and their attention was immediately absorbed.

Aunt Estella excused herself to check on Lexx, who had been sleeping in the portable bassinet in the bedroom. Arianne told her to get some rest and leave the cleanup to her and Franz. Aunt Estella waved a hand in acknowledgment and disappeared down the hallway.

The four adults remained at the dining table. The dishes had been pushed aside, and a second bottle of wine: another gift from Harvey, had been opened. Franz hadn’t touched his glass. He was turning everything over.

"Tell me about Blackwood," Arianne said, her voice moving into something more businesslike. "Why did they fail to secure investment? Twice."

Harvey leaned back in his chair. The tattoos on his forearms were visible where he’d rolled up his sleeves. "The first time was technical. Their proposal was incomplete: missing data, inadequate projections. We declined on procedural grounds. The second time—" He paused. "You specifically recused yourself from any involvement with Blackwood’s application. You made it clear you wouldn’t interfere, one way or the other. But that doesn’t mean we went easy on them."

"I didn’t expect you to."

"They couldn’t deliver. We asked for specific data to meet our criteria, and they couldn’t produce it. It wasn’t personal. It was business." Harvey swirled the wine in his glass. "We’re talking about a two-billion-dollar investment. Mythos doesn’t hand that kind of money to just anyone. Blackwood wasn’t ready. They may never be ready."

Franz set his glass down. "Did my brother ever approach Mythos Group? Alex?"

Harvey nodded. "Yes. He came with Lucas Rochefort: your cousin, the lawyer. We met several times. Alex was impressive. Sharp. He understood the risks and had a clear vision for what Rochefort Group could do with the right backing." He paused. "I told him if he could present a solid proposal, Mythos would give him a fair shot."

Franz turned to Arianne. "Did you know about this?"

"No," she said. "I wasn’t involved in screening potential partners. My position didn’t require it."

"But you were here. In Rohan. When Alex was pursuing this."

"I was. But Alex never told me. He must have wanted to do it on his own terms." She paused. "We found an incomplete proposal in his study, after he died. For Mythos Group. We didn’t know how far he’d gotten."

"He got far enough to meet me," Harvey said. "Far enough that I was ready to give him a chance." He looked at Franz. "Your brother was a good man. I was sorry to hear what happened."

Franz nodded. He didn’t trust himself to speak.

Harvey continued, his tone even. "Arianne recused herself from the Rochefort Group’s potential application too, you know. She wouldn’t touch it. Said it was a conflict of interest."

"Because she was married to me," Franz said.

"Because she was involved with Rochefort Group. And because—" Harvey stopped. He looked at Arianne. "He doesn’t know?"

Arianne sighed. "I was planning to tell him. You’ve just beaten me to it."

"Tell me what?" Franz asked.

Harvey glanced between them, his expression unreadable. Then he shrugged, as if the revelation was of no particular consequence. "Arianne doesn’t work for Mythos Group. She runs it. She’s the chairwoman."

The words hung in the air.

Franz stared at him. Then at Arianne. She met his gaze without flinching, her expression even, as if she’d been caught in a minor oversight rather than a years-long omission.

"Chairwoman," Franz repeated. "Not a consultant."

"No."

"You’re the chairwoman of one of the most powerful investment groups in the world."

"Yes."

"And you never mentioned this."

"I was going to. On this trip. I wanted to show you the office, the people, the work I built here. I wanted you to understand before I said the words." She paused. "I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner."

Franz didn’t say anything. He pushed his chair back from the table.

"Arianne left the day-to-day management to me after she decided to stay in Montclair," Harvey said. "I don’t blame her. Rochefort Group needed her. But she’s still involved: every major decision, every significant investment comes to her first. She just does it from your dining table. While raising three children and running your company."

"That’s—" Franz stopped. There was no word for it. "That’s a great deal."

"She’s always done a great deal. You get used to it."

"I don’t think I will."

"Good. You shouldn’t." Harvey raised his glass in a mock toast. "Keeps you humble."

Franz didn’t respond. He kept his eyes on Arianne, who was watching him with an expression that was almost: just almost, apologetic.

"I was going to tell you," she said again.

"I know. You said that."

"Are you angry?"

He laughed. It came out short and a little disbelieving, and Harvey’s eyebrow went up. Franz shook his head.

"I’m not angry," he said. "I’m reconfiguring. Give me a minute."

"Take all the minutes you need."

Harvey poured himself more wine, content to let the silence sit.

Franz looked at her across the table. She was watching him the way she watched everything: waiting to see what he would do with the information. He reached over and picked up her wine glass and set it in front of her.

"Drink," he said. "We’ll talk about it later."

The corner of her mouth moved. She picked up the glass.

He picked up his glass and drank.