Sweet Love 2x: Miss Ruthless CEO for our Superstar Uncle-Chapter 16: Seen Again

The Rochefort Group headquarters stood quietly against the morning sky, all glass and steel. Arianne stepped out of the car without hesitation, her movements unhurried and her expression neutral.

It had been years since she last entered a building like this—not as a guest, but as someone expected to sit at the table.

She followed Franz through security. The rhythm returned to her naturally. The polite nods, discreet glances, and the way people noticed without staring. This wasn’t her company, yet nothing about the place felt unfamiliar.

"Thanks for coming, Aria," Franz said nervously as they waited for the elevator.

"About the twins’ proposal..."

It had been their first meeting since the twins had proposed to Arianne.

Arianne shook her head. "We can talk about that later, Franz. Let’s focus on what’s before us."

Franz nodded, his heartbeat refusing to slow down.

"You said the agenda is about Alex’s proposal." Arianne continued, her eyes fixated on the number flashing before them.

"Yes."

The door slid open. Neither of them spoke again.

The boardroom was already half-filled when they arrived. Conversation came to an immediate stop as Franz entered, followed by Arianne. Eyes immediately set on her with interest and curiosity. Some of them were familiar to Arianne, but there were also new faces.

Franz took his seat at the head of the table, while Arianne sat to his right, her position deliberate. She was close enough to consult, but far enough to remind everyone that she didn’t belong to the board.

"This is Ms. Arianne Summers," Franz announced. "She’s joining us today as an external consultant."

His words were precise, not allowing anyone to question Arianne’s presence.

A few heads turned at her name.

Arianne acknowledged the board with a brief nod and said nothing.

The meeting moved on quickly. Reports were given and figures projected before the board. When the agenda reached its third item, the atmosphere within the room shifted.

"The proposed merger with Orion Logistics," one of the board members began, glancing at the screen. "This was initiated five years ago by Alexander Rochefort."

Arianne’s gaze remained on the data, but she felt the subtle anticipation within the room.

His name was spoken as a fact.

"The proposal was shelved after his passing," the same man continued. "But market conditions have changed. The opportunity has resurfaced."

Arianne didn’t react, but she was aware of their gazes.

She had reviewed the documents the night before without anticipation or judgment. Alex had always been ambitious, sometimes to the point of recklessness, but his instincts had rarely been wrong.

"The concern right now is the integration risk. The overlap is quite significant." Another member pointed out.

"And regulatory exposure," someone else added. "This would invite scrutiny."

Franz listened, hands folded, his expression unreadable.

At some point, the discussion stalled. Eyes shifted first to him, then almost unconsciously toward Arianne.

She waited.

Finally, Franz turned to her. "Ms. Summers. What’s your assessment?"

Arianne blinked once; her expression remained neutral.

"The merger is structurally sound," she started. "Alex’s framework anticipated most operational redundancies and possible challenges ahead. However, timing is no longer on your side."

She tapped the screen once, drawing attention to a chart.

"Five years ago, Orion’s expansion posed a competitive threat. Today, it’s leverage, but only if executed cleanly. Otherwise, it becomes a liability for Rochefort Group."

No one said a word, allowing Arianne to continue.

"The real risk, as I see it, isn’t integration, but perception. This merger would position Rochefort Group as a dominant player in a sensitive sector. Regulatory scrutiny is inevitable.

A board member frowned and commented, "You’ve handled something similar at Summers."

Arianne glanced at him. "Yes."

Her calm acknowledgment kept everyone’s eyes on her.

Questions followed, and Arianne answered each without difficulty. When Franz noticed everyone had been trying to put her on the spot, he intervened, answering the question himself.

At one point, a minor shareholder began. "Perhaps we should—"

"For the record," the Rochefort Group’s legal counsel, Lucas Rochefort, Alex and Franz’s cousin, interjected. He adjusted his glasses and looked at Arianne. "Miss Summers is not part of the voting body."

His reminder landed clearly, immediately stopping the members from questioning Arianne further.

Arianne inclined her head. "Of course."

No one argued, and the meeting continued, but everyone was aware a line had been drawn.

By the time the meeting adjourned, the merger remained unresolved. The problem, however, had been given another perspective.

Outside the boardroom, some of the board members exchanged a few greetings and words with Arianne, forcing Franz to wait.

He laughed inwardly at the irony.

Outside, he was the one being chased by the fans, but here in the boardroom, Arianne Summers had drawn everyone’s attention. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Franz was suddenly reminded that he didn’t belong here.

It took some time before Arianne was allowed to leave. Franz deliberately slowed his steps to match her pace.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, waving a hand before smiling when someone greeted him at the lobby.

Arianne considered the question.

"I’m good," she replied. "But I didn’t expect so many would remember."

As they walked down the corridor, Arianne caught her reflection in the glass. She looked composed and unmistakably prepared.

Franz nodded. He had noticed too—someone like her was unforgettable.

"Should I give you a ride?" He offered, not wanting to be parted from her too soon.

Arianne shook her head, but thanked him for his offer.

"There’s no need, Franz. Aunt Estella and I would go to the airport to pick Gio up," she replied.

"Gio?" Franz furrowed his brows.

Right. He hadn’t seen the man who always followed Arianne around.

"So, he didn’t come with you? Is he still working as your assistant?"

"No. Only Aunt Estella accompanied me, but he would be coming soon since there’s a sudden change in plan." Arianne pressed the button on the elevator.

"He’s covering for me. We have some commitments we couldn’t reschedule by the time we received the news."

As the elevator descended, Franz remained where he was.

The merger was unresolved.

The board was divided.

And Arianne Summers had once again become a variable no one could ignore.

Whatever came next, it would no longer be possible to pretend that her presence carried no weight.

She was bound to enter the battlefield again.