Chapter One — A Seat at the Table
The conference room at Whitmore Automotive Group was already occupied when Charles Whitmore glanced at the clock.
Two o'clock.
The meeting with the clients was important, and there was one person he wanted sitting at the table.
His daughter.
“Ella.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Call Vivienne. I want her to attend the meeting.”
Ella nodded, reaching for her phone.
A few seconds later, the call connected.
“Good afternoon, ma'am.”
Vivienne looked up from the book in front of her.
She was sitting in one of the quieter corners of Bellmont University's library, surrounded by open textbooks and neatly arranged notes. Her dark-brown hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and a pen rested between her fingers.
“Yes, Ella?”
“Your father wants you to attend a meeting.”
Vivienne glanced at the time.
“What time?”
“Two p.m.”
She closed the book in front of her.
“Okay.”
There was no hesitation in her voice.
Ella paused for a moment before asking, “I'll send the details to you, ma'am.”
“Alright.”
Vivienne ended the call and slipped her phone onto the table.
Across from her, Lily looked up from her notes.
“What happened?”
“I'm going to the office,” Vivienne said, gathering her things. “There's a meeting. Dad wants me there.”
Lily nodded. “Okay.”
Vivienne slid her laptop into her bag.
“Will you head home after the meeting, or...?”
“No.” Vivienne adjusted the strap over her shoulder. “I'll come back to the library.”
Lily smiled.
“Okay. I'll wait for you here.”
Vivienne gave her a small nod before turning toward the library exit.
She had a meeting to attend.
And at Whitmore Automotive Group, being twenty-one had never been an excuse to be unprepared.
The moment Vivienne stepped into the parking lot, she spotted the black sedan waiting near the entrance.
Her driver stepped forward and opened the rear door.
“Where are we heading, ma'am?”
“To the office.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Vivienne slid into the back seat, placing her laptop beside her.
The moment the car pulled away, she opened it and checked the meeting details Ella had sent.
Client: Hartwell Luxury Developments
Meeting: Expansion partnership
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Vivienne skimmed through the proposal, her eyes moving quickly across the figures.
A few minutes into the drive, she stopped at one particular number.
She frowned slightly.
“That doesn't make sense.”
The driver glanced at her through the rear-view mirror but wisely said nothing.
Vivienne opened another document and compared the figures.
There it was.
The projected production cost didn't match the figure included in the proposal.
Someone had either made a mistake...
Or expected no one to notice.
Vivienne closed the laptop.
She would find out soon enough.
---
The black sedan pulled into the Whitmore Automotive Group's private entrance.
The driver stepped out and opened her door.
Vivienne adjusted the sleeve of her blazer before stepping out.
She walked through the enormous glass doors of the headquarters with the same calm confidence she carried everywhere else.
The moment she entered the hallway, conversations quieted.
Employees turned toward her.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Whitmore.”
“Good afternoon, ma'am.”
“Good afternoon.”
Vivienne responded with nothing more than a polite nod.
She didn't stop.
She wasn't rude.
She simply didn't believe that she needed to make a performance out of her position.
By the time she reached the executive meeting room, her father was already waiting inside.
Charles looked up from the documents in front of him.
“Sit. The clients are coming.”
“Yes.”
Vivienne took the seat beside him and placed her laptop on the table.
A few moments later, the doors opened.
Three people entered.
The man in the center, probably in his late fifties, wore an expensive charcoal suit and carried himself with the confidence of someone accustomed to getting what he wanted.
“Mr. Whitmore.”
Charles stood and shook his hand.
“Mr. Hartwell. It's good to see you again.”
“Likewise.”
Introductions followed.
Vivienne remained standing until everyone had taken their seats.
Mr. Hartwell's eyes briefly settled on her.
“And this is...?”
“My daughter, Vivienne.”
There was a brief pause.
“Vivienne Whitmore?”
“Yes.”
Hartwell's eyebrows rose slightly.
“I wasn't aware you'd be joining us.”
“My father asked me to.”
Something about the way she said it made him smile.
“Of course.”
Everyone took their seats.
The presentation began.
For the first fifteen minutes, Vivienne said nothing.
She listened.
She watched.
She took notes.
The clients presented their proposal for a partnership between Hartwell Luxury Developments and Whitmore Automotive Group—a long-term agreement that would place Whitmore vehicles in several of Hartwell's upcoming luxury properties.
The numbers were impressive.
The projected returns were even more impressive.
But Vivienne wasn't looking at the returns.
She was looking at the details underneath them.
When the presentation ended, Hartwell leaned back.
“We believe this partnership would be mutually beneficial.”
Charles nodded.
“We've reviewed the proposal. There are certainly opportunities here.”
Hartwell smiled.
“Excellent. Then perhaps we can move forward with the terms we've suggested.”
Vivienne finally looked up from her notes.
“There is one problem.”
The room went quiet.
Charles turned toward her.
Hartwell looked amused.
“And what would that be?”
Vivienne opened her laptop.
“Your projected production requirement.”
Hartwell's smile faded slightly.
She turned the screen toward the center of the table.
“You've projected a forty-two percent increase in production over the next eighteen months.”
“Yes.”
“But your distribution plan only accounts for a twenty-seven percent increase in demand.”
One of Hartwell's associates shifted in his seat.
Vivienne continued.
“That leaves fifteen percent of projected production without a confirmed distribution channel.”
Hartwell leaned forward.
“We expect demand to increase.”
“Expecting it isn't the same as proving it.”
The room went silent.
Vivienne's voice remained perfectly calm.
“If Whitmore commits to the production increase you're requesting, we're taking the financial risk while your company benefits from the additional capacity.”
Hartwell studied her for a moment.
“And what would you suggest?”
Vivienne clicked to the next page.
“A phased agreement.”
She brought up a revised projection.
“Twenty percent increase during the first six months. If your distribution numbers meet the projected target, we increase production again.”
Hartwell looked at the figures.
“And if they don't?”
“We stop there.”
Charles watched his daughter quietly.
Hartwell leaned back.
“You've thought this through.”
“I was given the proposal this morning.”
That earned a brief laugh from one of the clients.
“You read all of this in a few hours?”
Vivienne closed her laptop.
“I don't like walking into meetings unprepared.”
Hartwell exchanged a glance with his associates.
Then he looked back at Charles.
“I see where she gets it from.”
Charles smiled faintly.
“I'd say she gets most of it from her grandmother.”
Vivienne said nothing, but the smallest hint of amusement appeared in her eyes.
Hartwell looked down at the revised proposal again.
“I'll admit, Ms. Whitmore, your terms are more conservative than ours.”
“They're safer.”
“For Whitmore.”
“For both companies.”
She held his gaze.
“If the partnership is meant to last, neither side should have to carry an unreasonable amount of risk.”
There was no arrogance in her voice.
Only certainty.
After a moment, Hartwell nodded.
“I can work with that.”
Vivienne leaned back.
“Then we have an agreement in principle.”
Charles glanced at her.
For a brief moment, pride crossed his face.
His daughter was twenty-one.
But sitting across from experienced businessmen, she hadn't needed him to speak for her even once.
And that was exactly why her grandparents had chosen her.
Not because she was a Whitmore.
Because she was ready to become one.
“We'll send the revised agreement by tomorrow,” Hartwell said, closing the folder in front of him.
“Of course,” Charles replied.
The meeting slowly came to an end.
Chairs shifted against the polished floor, documents were gathered, and after a final exchange of handshakes, the clients made their way out of the conference room.
The door closed behind them.
For the first time in nearly an hour, the room was quiet.
Charles leaned back in his chair and looked at his daughter.
“You did great work in such a limited amount of time.”
Vivienne closed her laptop.
“Thanks. I'll take my leave now.”
She stood, reaching for her bag.
Charles frowned slightly.
“Did you have lunch?”
Vivienne paused.
“No. I was in a lecture, then I went to the library, so…”
She glanced at her phone.
Charles pushed his chair back.
“Let's go. I haven't eaten yet either.”
Vivienne shook her head.
“No, that's okay. Lily is waiting for me. We're going to have lunch together.”
“Call her over here.” Charles smiled. “I'd love to have lunch with both my daughters.”
Vivienne hesitated for only a second before nodding.
“Okay.”
She pulled out her phone and called Lily.
The call connected after two rings.
“Hey.”
Vivienne smiled faintly at the sound of her sister's voice.
“How did it go?”
“Fine.”
There was a brief pause.
“That's it? Just fine?”
Vivienne glanced at her father.
“We reached an agreement.”
“Oh, that's great.”
“Dad wants you to come here for lunch.”
There was another pause.
“That's great, but…”
Vivienne's eyebrows drew together.
“But?”
“I already had lunch while you were in the meeting.”
Vivienne stared at the phone.
“You had lunch alone?”
“Nope.”
Vivienne immediately straightened.
“Then?”
“Umm…”
Lily's voice suddenly became suspiciously hesitant.
Vivienne narrowed her eyes.
“With a friend.”
Vivienne's expression changed.
“What friend? Your friends left after the lectures.”
“Umm… I…”
Lily stumbled over her words.
“I met a new friend recently.”
Vivienne leaned back against the table.
“Okay.”
Her tone was calm.
Too calm.
“Why don't I know about him?”
“Actually…”
Lily hesitated again.
“I forgot to tell you.”
Vivienne was silent for a moment.
She knew Lily too well.
Something was being left unsaid.
“Are you interested in him?”
Silence.
Vivienne's eyebrows rose.
“Lily?”
“I…”
A small laugh came through the phone.
“Maybe.”
Vivienne crossed her arms.
“Maybe?”
“Okay. Yes.”
Vivienne's expression remained unreadable.
“Who is he?”
“Vivienne—”
“What's his name?”
“Why are you interrogating me?”
“I'm not interrogating you.”
“You sound like you're interrogating me.”
“I'm simply asking questions.”
“That's exactly what interrogating is.”
Vivienne rolled her eyes.
“Lily.”
“Fine. His name is Daniel.”
Vivienne's expression softened slightly.
“Daniel what?”
“Daniel Bennett.”
The smile disappeared from Vivienne's face.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Bennett.
Of course.
She glanced toward her father, who was still gathering the documents from the meeting, completely unaware of the conversation happening beside him.
“The Bennett family?”
“Yeah.”
“And you're interested in him?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Not very long.”
“Define not very long.”
“Vivienne…”
“Lily.”
A sigh came through the phone.
“About a month.”
Vivienne stared at the floor.
A month.
Her little sister had been seeing someone for a month, and somehow Vivienne had known nothing about it.
That bothered her.
Not because he was a Bennett.
Because Lily had kept it from her.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Lily's voice softened.
“I was going to.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
“That's not an answer.”
“I was nervous.”
Vivienne's expression softened.
“Nervous about what?”
“You.”
Vivienne blinked.
“Me?”
“You're protective.”
“I am not.”
“You absolutely are.”
“I simply care.”
“I know.”
There was warmth in Lily's voice.
“And that's why I was nervous.”
Vivienne sighed.
She couldn't exactly argue with that.
“Fine.”
“Fine?”
“Bring him.”
“What?”
“Lunch.”
“Vivienne—”
“You said you're interested in him. I'd like to meet him.”
There was a long pause.
Then Lily laughed.
“You're impossible.”
“So I've been told.”
“I'll ask him.”
“Good.”
“See you soon.”
“See you.”
The call ended.
Vivienne lowered her phone.
Charles looked at her curiously.
“Everything alright?”
Vivienne slipped her phone into her bag.
“Lily's seeing someone.”
Charles's face immediately brightened.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Vivienne looked at him.
“Daniel Bennett.”
Charles paused.
Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.
“Well…”
Vivienne raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“I suppose lunch just became more interesting.”
She gave him a look.
“I don't see what's interesting about it.”
Charles chuckled.
“You will.”
Vivienne wasn't convinced.
She had no idea that by lunchtime, she would finally meet the person who would change far more than her sister's life.
The private dining room on the executive floor was quieter than the rest of the office.
Charles had already taken a seat at the table by the window when Vivienne walked in. She placed her bag on the empty chair beside her and sat down.
“You look tired,” Charles said.
“I've been at university since morning.”
“And you still came to a business meeting.”
“You asked me to.”
Charles smiled.
“That answer is exactly why I asked you.”
Vivienne gave him a look but said nothing.
A few minutes later, the door opened.
Lily walked in, followed by a young man.
Vivienne's eyes immediately moved toward him.
He looked slightly nervous.
Lily, on the other hand, looked unusually happy.
“Dad,” Lily said.
Charles stood with a smile.
“Lily.”
He pulled her into a brief hug before looking at the man beside her.
“And you must be Daniel.”
Daniel smiled politely.
“Yes, sir. It's nice to meet you.”
“Come in. Don't stand there looking terrified.”
Daniel laughed softly.
“I'm trying not to.”
Charles gestured toward the table.
“Sit.”
Lily took the seat beside Vivienne.
Daniel sat across from them.
Vivienne studied him quietly for a moment.
Not rudely.
Just carefully.
Daniel noticed.
Lily noticed too.
“Vivi.”
Vivienne looked at her.
“What?”
“Stop intimidating him.”
“I haven't said anything.”
“Exactly.”
Charles laughed.
“Leave your sister alone, Lily.”
Vivienne gave her father a grateful look.
Lily smiled innocently.
The food arrived a few minutes later, and the conversation slowly became more relaxed.
Charles asked Daniel about university.
“What are you studying?”
“Business.”
“Interested in joining your family's company?”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes. I've always been interested in business.”
Charles seemed pleased.
“And what about you, Lily?”
Lily smiled.
“You know what I want to do.”
Charles looked at her knowingly.
“Singing.”
“Exactly.”
Vivienne glanced at her sister.
There was a quiet pride in her eyes.
Lily had always known exactly what she wanted.
And Vivienne intended to make sure she had the freedom to pursue it.
Charles smiled.
“You girls certainly know what you want.”
Vivienne picked up her glass.
“That's a good thing.”
“It is.”
Daniel looked between the sisters.
“You two are very close.”
Lily immediately smiled.
“She raised me.”
Vivienne nearly choked on her water.
“I did not.”
“You practically did.”
“I was fifteen.”
“And already bossy.”
Vivienne stared at her.
“I prefer protective.”
Lily laughed.
Daniel smiled.
“I can see that.”
Vivienne looked at him.
“Is that a complaint?”
“No.”
He shook his head quickly.
“Definitely not.”
Charles laughed from across the table.
“Daniel, you're learning quickly.”
The conversation continued, easy and comfortable.
Vivienne asked Daniel a few questions about university—not because she was trying to interrogate him this time, but because she genuinely wanted to know who Lily had chosen.
He answered every question honestly.
He didn't try too hard to impress her.
He didn't act intimidated by the Whitmore name either.
And slowly, Vivienne's initial suspicion faded.
When lunch was nearly finished, Lily leaned toward her sister.
“So?”
Vivienne looked at her.
“So what?”
“What do you think?”
Vivienne glanced across the table at Daniel.
He was listening to Charles talk about a recent business project.
She looked back at Lily.
“He seems nice.”
Lily's face lit up.
“Really?”
“Don't look so excited.”
“You like him!”
“I said he's nice.”
“That means you like him.”
Vivienne shook her head.
“You're impossible.”
Lily smiled and rested her head briefly against Vivienne's shoulder.
“Love you too.”
Vivienne rolled her eyes, but a small smile appeared on her lips.
“Eat your dessert.”
Lily grinned.
“Yes, ma'am.”
For someone who rarely showed affection with words, Vivienne had a strange way of making the people she loved feel it anyway.
Lunch came to an end a little while later.
Charles checked his watch and pushed his chair back.
“I've got some work to finish. You girls can stay as long as you like.”
Vivienne nodded.
“Okay, Dad.”
Charles gave Lily a quick kiss on the forehead before leaving the room.
Once the door closed behind him, Vivienne looked across the table.
“Daniel.”
Daniel looked up.
“Yes?”
“Can I talk to you for a second? In private.”
Lily immediately looked between them.
“Private?”
Vivienne gave her a look.
“Wait for us in the parking lot.”
“But—”
“Come on,” Daniel interrupted gently, giving Lily an encouraging smile. “Trust me.”
Lily narrowed her eyes at both of them.
“Fine.”
She picked up her bag and stood.
“I'll wait downstairs.”
Vivienne nodded.
Lily left the room, closing the door behind her.
The moment they were alone, Vivienne turned toward Daniel.
“Are you serious about her?”
Daniel didn't hesitate.
“Yes, I am.”
Vivienne studied his face.
“How can you be serious after only a month?”
Daniel leaned back slightly.
“Because I don't think seriousness is measured by how long you've known someone.”
Vivienne remained silent.
“I know it's only been a month,” he continued. “And I'm not going to pretend I know everything about her yet. But I know enough to know that I want to.”
Vivienne's expression remained unreadable.
“And what exactly do you want?”
“To be with her.”
“For how long?”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“I don't have an expiration date in mind.”
Vivienne didn't smile.
“This isn't a casual relationship for you?”
“No.”
“You're not going to waste her time?”
“No.”
“And you're not going to hurt her?”
Daniel paused.
“I can't promise she'll never get hurt.”
Vivienne's eyes narrowed slightly.
“But I can promise I won't intentionally be the reason.”
That answer made her pause.
Most people would have immediately promised they would never hurt someone.
Daniel didn't.
He was honest enough to admit that relationships weren't completely within anyone's control.
Vivienne looked down at her hands for a moment.
“Lily cares about people easily.”
“I know.”
“She trusts people easily too.”
“I know that as well.”
“And she deserves someone who won't take advantage of that.”
Daniel nodded.
“She does.”
Vivienne studied him for another moment.
Then she leaned back.
“Good.”
Daniel smiled.
“Was that an approval?”
“Don't push it.”
He laughed softly.
There was a brief silence before Daniel spoke again.
“Vivi—”
Vivienne's expression immediately changed.
“Don't call me that.”
Daniel blinked.
“Sorry.”
“Only Lily, my mother, and my grandparents call me that.”
Daniel nodded immediately.
“Understood, Vivienne.”
She gave him a small nod.
“Thank you.”
He smiled.
“So I'm guessing that's a very exclusive list.”
“It is.”
“I'll remember that.”
Vivienne picked up her bag.
“Good.”
She started toward the door, then stopped.
“And Daniel?”
“Yes?”
“If you hurt her…”
She turned slightly, her expression calm but her voice firm.
“I won't make threats. I'll simply make sure you regret making me regret trusting you.”
Daniel stared at her for a second.
Then he smiled.
“I believe you.”
Vivienne opened the door.
“Good.”
They walked toward the elevator together.
Neither of them noticed Lily waiting downstairs with an impatient expression.
And neither of them knew that, before long, Daniel would become much more than Lily's boyfriend.
He would be the reason Vivienne Whitmore finally crossed paths with someone she had unknowingly been sharing a university with for three years.
They found Lily waiting near the entrance when they stepped out of the elevator.
Vivienne glanced at her sister.
“Are you going to the library?”
“Yes.”
Vivienne adjusted the strap of her bag.
“If you don't want to come with me, that's okay.”
“That’s not what I—”
“You're saying you don't want to spend some time with him after he just met Dad and me.”
Lily looked at her for a moment before smiling.
“You know me very well, don't you?”
“I do.”
Vivienne gave her a knowing look.
“Enjoy your afternoon. And be home before ten.”
“Okay,” Lily said.
Daniel nodded. “We will.”
Vivienne took a step toward the parking lot before stopping.
She turned back to Daniel.
“And one more thing.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I haven't objected to your relationship.”
Lily's eyes widened slightly.
“But that doesn't mean you can get physical with her.”
“Vivi—”
“What?”
Lily looked embarrassed.
Daniel, however, remained perfectly calm.
“I can wait.”
Vivienne studied him.
Daniel continued, “If that's what Lily wants, I'm willing to wait.”
Lily looked at him, clearly surprised by his answer.
Vivienne gave him a firm nod.
“You better.”
Daniel smiled.
“I intend to.”
Vivienne turned toward Lily.
“Good. I'll see you later.”
“Bye, Vivi.”
“Bye.”
Vivienne walked toward the parking lot, leaving Lily and Daniel behind.
Lily watched her go before turning to Daniel.
“She scares you, doesn't she?”
Daniel smiled.
“A little.”
Lily laughed.
“Good.”
And for the first time that afternoon, Daniel wondered if dating Lily came with an unofficial second relationship—with her fiercely protective sister.
