Chapter 4 - The Boardroom and the BlossomThree days passed without incident, but the city of Philadelphia felt different to Harper. Every black sedan she passed on the street seemed to watch her. Every shadow in the subway station looked like Damian’s enforcers.
She tried to focus on work, burying herself in wedding consultations and floral arrangements, but the white business card sat tucked safely inside the back of her phone case—a constant, glowing ember of danger.
On Thursday morning, a sleek black town car pulled up directly in front of Bennett Blooms, ignoring a row of parking meters with casual immunity.
The rear door opened, and a man in a crisp navy suit stepped out. Not the brawler from before, but a sleek, sharp-looking corporate attorney who looked like he billed five hundred dollars an hour just to clear his throat.
He walked into the shop, bypassed the customers browsing near the front, and stopped right in front of Harper.
"Miss Bennett?"
"Yes?" Harper wiped her hands on her apron, her stomach doing a slow, sickening drop.
"I am Julian Vance, general counsel for Vale Enterprises," the attorney said smoothly, offering a brief, professional nod. "Mr. Vale requires your presence at a private dinner this evening. A car will pick you up at your apartment at 7:00 p.m."
Harper stared at him. "A dinner? Tell Mr. Vale I'm busy. I have inventory to sort, and frankly, I don't take summonses from corporate overlords."
Julian didn't blink. He reached into his leather portfolio, pulled out a thick manila folder, and laid it neatly on the counter, flipping it open to reveal a single signed document.
"This is the municipal zoning permit for your entire city block," Julian said calmly. "There is an active commercial redevelopment bid currently pending before the city council. Vale Enterprises owns the controlling interest in the developer. If you do not attend dinner with Mr. Vale tonight, construction permits will be fast-tracked, your building will be condemned for structural safety violations by Friday morning, and you will be legally barred from operating a commercial business in this district for the next five years."
Harper stared at him in absolute horror. "You... you're blackmailing me with zoning laws?!"
"Mr. Vale does not negotiate through third parties, Miss Bennett," Julian said with a polite, chilling smile. "He simply invites. I strongly suggest you accept the invitation."
He turned and walked out of the shop, leaving Harper standing frozen behind the counter, her blood boiling with a mixture of white-hot fury and paralyzing dread.
Maya walked out from the back room, holding a pair of pruning shears with a look of absolute awe and terror. "Was that... was that the corporate hitman?"
"He's coming to pick me up at seven," Harper hissed, slamming her hand down on the counter. "That arrogant, manipulative, narcissistic sociopath! He thinks he can just box me into a corner until I have no choice?!"
"Well," Maya pointed out logically, "he did kind of back you into a corner. What are you going to do?"
May you like
Harper grabbed her phone, her fingers flying across the screen as she pulled up the white business card she had scanned into her notes app. She stared at the ten-digit number.
"I'm going to dinner," Harper said through gritted teeth. "And then I am going to tell Damian Vale exactly what I think of his corporate tyranny."
