Chapter 447
Riley took the coffee and set it aside without touching it.
She put the project files she’d brought onto the coffee table and got straight to business. “Mr. Baker, Logan Bailey, who previously handled the Wharfbrook project on our side, has eft Harper Group. I’ll be taking over the project personally going forward.
“I’m here today to reconfirm every detail with you and make sure we’re on the same page about the goals. I don’t want misunderstandings or unnecessary friction down the line p>
Something flickered through Stephen’s eyes.
He nodded hard, his smile widening! “Ah, that explains it. Logan called me this morning to say he’d left. He mentioned you in particular, Ms. Harper p>
He said it like it was nothing, but it was a probe, meant to see how she’d react to Logan’s name.
When her expression didn’t budge, he kept going. “But I gotta say, Ms. Harper-you only just took over, and you’re already here in Wharfbrook handling things personally. That kind of hustle is impressive. The new generation really means business. Looks like the Harper Group picked the right person p>
Riley kept her face cool and distant. She hadn’t come here to trade compliments or soak up flattery.
She lifted her eyes and met his straight on, her voice sharp. “Mr. Baker, I don’t want to waste time on small talk. Can we start discussing the project now? From what I understand, this deal has been stuck mainly because the initial proposal was never finalized. I’d like to hear your concerns. Specifically, which parts of our proposal didn’t meet your company’s needs? You can lay it. all out for me this time, in detail p>
She’d cut straight to the heart of it.
Stephen cleared his throat and let out a couple of awkward laughs. “Well, Ms. Harper, you really don’t beat around the bush. The thing is, it’s not a huge issue. Every proposal your team sent over just felt like it was… I don’t know how to put it… missing the mark. Close, but not quite there. So we never got to a final p>
He was all fog, no substance. Clearly dodging.
Riley knew “missing the mark” was just a cover. The real issue was always buried deeper.
“Mr. Baker, any proposal can be refined with solid communication. But if all you tell me is that we’re missing the mark without telling me where the mark actually is, we can’t deliver something that fits your needs p>
Stephen seemed momentarily cornered by how direct she was. He stammered a little, his eyes drifting away, clearly unwilling to get into it.
Then, as if a lightbulb had gone off, he clapped his hands together.
“Yes! That’s exactly it, Ms. Harper! You hit the nail on the head.” He arranged his face into an expression of sudden clarity, as her words had just unlocked some deep truth for him.
He grabbed his watch off the desk and glanced at it with exaggerated regret. “Oh, would you look at the time. Time just flies. The workday’s nearly over already.
“How about I take you out for dinner tonight? My treat. We can go over the project details over a good meal. Much more relaxed.
Easier to talk openly, don’t you think p>
The dinner invite set off every alarmin Riley’s head. She knew exactly what a “working dinner” like that meant, especially coming from someone with Stephen’s reputation.
She swallowed her disgust and let her voice turn cold.
“Mr. Baker, I appreciate the offer, but let’s stay focused on the project. If you need to head out soon, I won’t keep you. I can come back tomorrow p>
“Ah, Ms. Harper, you’re putting me in a tough spot.” Stephen shook his head, “Tomorrow’s impossible. I’m flying out to Kingston first thing in the morning. Business trip. I won’t be back for at least two weeks. If you’re willing to wait, we can reschedule when! get back p>
The move was blatant. He was throwing up a wall to make her back off, or to pressure her into saying yes to tonight.
Riley felt her temper spike. He was using his position as the client to jerk her around without even pretending to be subtle about it.
She was still weighing her options when her phone buzzed.
She glanced down and saw a message from Sebastian.
“In Wharfbrook? I’m grabbing food with David at Seavoir Bistro nearby. Want to join p>