Chapter 68A Deal with the Devil?Ximena walked around her office, her heels tapping the wooden floor with a sound of a metronome. She looked at the clock once again, as if she had never done that before, but the thousandth time. Just on time, the voice of her assistant sounded through the intercom. “Hello, Ma, Mr. Vega is here to see you.” Ximena took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. “Please, let him come in.” The door opened and there entered Alejandro Vega, a man who was the head of Vega Investments. His daughter Sofia, who had first approached her, was right behind him. '‘It is nice to meet you,’' said Alejandro, stretching his hand for a handshake. '‘My name is Alejandro.'’ "Ms. Antonio," he began. “It was good to see you guys on such short notice.” “Of course,” Ximena said quickly, pointing at the shiny conference table in front of them. "Shall we?" Once they were in and seated, Miguel rushed inside the room, panting a little. “Sorry I’m late,” he said, barely
Chapter 69Community MattersXimena was standing at the podium looking at the audience that consisted of very doubtful individuals. The community center was filled to capacity with people including some who sat in the hallway. This wasn’t going to be easy. "Thank you all for coming,” she started, her voice was calm and though she was nervous, it did not reflect in her voice. “I understand that many of you are still angry with our company and its actions in the past and you have all the reasons to be.” There was a low whisper that went through the crowd. Ximena inhaled, and then she began to explain the details of the new community relations program in the company. While discussing the strategies of future investments in the area, creation of new jobs, and the cleanup of the environment, she noticed from the audience, the hope of skepticism and even hatred. When she was done speaking, the entire room was filled with people shouting questions and allegations. “How do we know that t
Chapter 70The Hot SeatXimena’s high heels tapped across the floor as her thoughts sped up more than her walking pace. There was a board meeting in five minutes and she felt like she was going to be executed. “You got this,” she whispered to herself as she adjusted her black blazer and entered the boardroom. Inside, the atmosphere was charged enough to hack a machete through. The directors were also seated uncomfortably around the table with most of them looking worried and some doubtful. At the far end, Miguel gave her a cold smile, devoid of warmth and did not meet the eyes. “Okay,” Ximena started, trying to control the trembling in her voice. "I know we have a lot of issues to discuss, so let’s begin."Over the next hour, she explained the whole complicated situation – the PR disaster, the people’s protests, the political issues. “We are at a crossroads here, and the decisions that will be taken today will determine whether we are going to swim or sink.” The room was filtered
Chapter 71Shaking Things UpXimena gazed out of the window of her corner office, admiring Mexico City with its tall buildings in front of her. She inhaled sharply and prepared herself for the day soon to come. The Antonio Group was in a very bad shape and this called for radical measures. “Are you ready for this?” Miguel said behind her. She turned, looking into his dark eyes. For a moment, there was a slight feeling of a butterfly in her chest, but she immediately dismissed it. She'd told herself, business only. No emotions.'‘Well, as ready as I am going to get," Ximena responded, taking a pile of folders from her table. “It is time to shake things up. Let’s go.” Ximena’s presentation of the restructuring plan turned the atmosphere in the boardroom rather rigid. Layoffs, restructuring, consolidating, reducing expenses wherever it was possible – it was not very friendly, but it had to be done. “We are talking about people’s sources of income here,” Sarah, one of the members who
Chapter 72Patent PendingPeople were looking forward to what Ximena and Miguel had to present at the conference room for the new product launch. After months of late nights and countless cups of coffee, they were finally ready to launch the Antonio Group's latest innovation: a new generation of non-traditional, environmentally friendly packaging material."Are you ready for this?" Miguel asked, pulling at the knot of his tie.Ximena inhaled deeply and adjusted her blazer. "As ready as I'll ever be. Let's knock their socks off."The presentation was a success. Ximena’s enthusiasm for the product was getting the investors interested and Miguel’s analysis of the market opportunities made the investors sit up straight in their chairs. And with that, the audience clapped."I think we got it," Miguel said and he slapped Ximena on the hand as they left the room.“Don’t jinx it,” she laughed, although her eyes were full of happiness.The joy was short-lived for them. When they arrived at Xi
Chapter 73Secrets and LiesMiguel woke up, the sun filtered through the window in his bedroom. As consciousness emerged, so did the recollections of the previous night. The feel of Tania’s skin, her smell, the kiss they had shared – all these feelings washed over him in a whirl of mixed feelings.He rolled to the side, hoping to find her there, but there was only a cold sheet waiting for him. Tania had disappeared, all that remained of her was the smell of her perfume and the conscience of what happened.Miguel rubbed his face and had the kind of feeling that could only come after a victory. What he’d done was wrong, he knew that. The guilt grew inside him, the feeling of Ximena and the developing intimacy between them sickening to his stomach. And yet… a part of him couldn’t help but feel a thrill at the memory of Tania in his arms again.Sweeping the thoughts aside, Miguel dragged himself out of bed. He had a company to run, after all. A company operating under a significant pr
Chapter 74Damage ControlThe Antonio Group head office was in disarray; phones ringing nonstop, employees talking to each other in huddles in muted tones, and palpable tension filled the air. In the eye of this storm stood Ximena in her office, where she couldn't believe her eyes as she watched the screen of the TV."Corporate espionage?" she said quietly, nodding. "This can't be happening."A knock on the door pulled her out from her reverie. Miguel opened the door and rushed in looking like crazy, completely disoriented.'‘Ximena, I can explain,'’ he started saying, but she interrupted him."What can you explain, Miguel? We are being accused of stealing trade secrets from our company? How are we now the star attraction in the media circus? Her voice was sharp, and she had both anger and fear in her.Miguel rubbed the back of his head; the usual assured timbre was absent. "It's Tania. She set us up."Ximena's eyes narrowed. "Tania? What has she got to do with this?Carlos entered be
Chapter 75Turbulent HeartsThe next day, fay....Ximena was at her office desk staring at the early morning mist that was slowly filling the sky over Mexico City. She had been there all night analyzing reports and future scenarios in a bid to try and look for some way out of the mess they had landed themselves in. The current global economic crisis could not have arrived at a worse time for the Antonio Group.A light knock on the door brought her back from her thoughts. Looking round she saw Miguel coming towards her, with two cups of coffee in the saucers.“You seem to need this,” he whispered and handed her a cup.She took it; their fingers touched- the most shattering shock passed through her. Their eyes met for a second, and at that moment, Ximena's heart missed a beat. She snapped her head around, ticking off the swirl of attraction. “Thank you,” she said quietly, hiding behind the glass from which she had barely drunk. "Any news?"Miguel's face turned serious. "Robert has ju
Chapter 134: A Suspicious AllyBack at the office, Miguel sat at his desk, the recent conversation with the unknown number weighing heavy on his mind. The interest of Vega for his support sounded disconcerting, unethical and not good enough to act upon. They needed hard evidence, concrete plans that could stop Vega's influence from dribbling any further into Antonio's Group. Just as he reached for his coffee, a knock came from his door."Miguel, may I have a minute?" the voice of Henry, one of the oldest board members, filtered through.He had always been present, the man who had shared work with Ximena's father in the past.Miguel nodded to let him in. "Of course, Mr. Henry. What seems to be the problem?"Henry shut the door behind him and for the first time, his face was somber.He sat down facing Miguel and wrung his hands."I'm coming to you because I feel this is the time I need to say something important. Vega… he contacted me recently and proposed a deal to work against Anto
Chapter 133: Bound by Trust Most of the day had been taken up at Antonio's Group, poring over the security protocols. They went over every recent interaction and activity by each board member with fine-tooth combs. Trust was even more fragile now since the confluence with Salazar. "We can't afford to miss anything," Ximena whispered, her eyes running down the latest reports. "I want to believe the rest of our board is loyal, but after what Salazar pulled, I won't take any chances." Miguel nodded, his eyes unflinching. "We are on the same page. And if anyone else gives any indication of being disloyal, the same thing that happened with Salazar will happen to them." They exchanged a glance; the weight of the day crowded in upon them suddenly. As the hours wore on, tiredness crept in to let them know they had reached their limit for today. Miguel looked at his timepiece and let the breath out. "Let's head back. We can pick this up tomorrow with fresh eyes," he said, giving her
Chapter 132: Breaking the SilenceMiguel continued pacing his office, the echo of Ximena's words from last night still reverberating in his head. She had asked him not to let her go, and he felt the weight of her trust settling deep inside. Their fragile but growing bond with each passing moment had become his source of motivation. But for that, he knew they had to bring an end to Vega's shadow over Antonio's Group and fast.Ximena entered the room, a determined look on her face. "I went over more of Salazar's records this morning," she said, handing him a folder. "The pattern is there, Miguel. Encrypted messages, confidential files shared outside our firewall, all leading back to him."Miguel took the folder, scanning over the documents she'd gone through and meticulously marked."So it is true. He's been feeding Vega with all that he needs to keep fanning doubt inside the company. The timing of these leaks, it has been deliberate. But we will have to make our approach with him su
Chapter 131: Crossed WiresAcross the ballroom, Miguel watched Tania and Salazar speak in hushed tones with an arguing suspension in his stomach. It was so easily done to distrust her. She showed up completely out of the blue, her history with Vega coming to mind first.But before he could dwell deeper on it, she noticed him watching her, flashed a familiar, flirtatious smile, and started making her way over."Miguel," she said, greeting him playfully. "I didn't think I'd see you here tonight. It's been a while, hasn't it?"He remained polite, cautious in his distances. "It has, Tania. I didn't expect you to show up here either.""Oh, I'm sure you didn't," she returned, laughing softly. "But sometimes it is nice to catch up, especially with old friends."She cocked her head; her eyes glinting with something that made Miguel wary. "I hope you don't mind if I interrupt your evening for just a moment?"Before Miguel could utter a reply, he saw Ximena's eyes dart over from across the way
Chapter 130: Shadows in Plain SightAntonio's Group sat in silence, the air thick with tension, as Miguel and Ximena pored over the latest reports. Certainly a rumor had reached them about possible involvement by Vega, but nothing sounded as ominous as the threads that they were unraveling now."Salazar's actions just don't quite add up," Ximena whispered, scanning through yet another set of transactions. "He's missed three board meetings in the last month. And each time he's absent, something critical either leaks to the press or falls into Vega's hands. It feels almost like a timing precision too good to be true."Miguel nodded, his eyes razor-sharp with focus. "I've had a strange feeling about him, too. He's evasive every time we bring up the financial discrepancies, almost as if he is covering up for someone or himself."Ximena looked up, her face aflame. "Tonight's fundraiser will have the whole board, Salazar included. We need to confront him there, in a public setting where h
Chapter 129: Shadows and SecretsMiguel arrived at the headquarters of Antonio's Group, his mind still fresh with Ximena's urgent message that morning. He went into her office to find her already at her desk, with papers all over, her face knitted with worry. She looked up as he came in, and he could see the stress shadowing her usually steady gaze."Thanks for coming so quickly," she said, gesturing to the stack of papers."What's going on?" Miguel asked, stepping forward to reach for the documents."Caden Holdings," Ximena replied, huffing. "After everything we did to reassure them, they're going cold feet on their position with us."Miguel's eyebrows furrowed as he flipped through the papers. "They're second-guessing us again? After all we did to stabilize this place?"Ximena nodded. Anger was taut in her tone. "They're still anxious. It's like every reassurance we give them only keeps them steady a minute before something else rattles them."She crossed her arms, leaning back s
Chapter 128: A Night to RememberThe aftermath of the break-in had Miguel and Ximena edgy, Antonio's Group silence heavier than usual. Despite security searching, nothing showed up; whoever had come for the company's secrets vanished into thin air. That uncertainty ticked them off, building fear about Vega's reach and intent.The cool night air brushed against their faces as Miguel walked Ximena to her car. The adrenaline of the break-in still sang in their veins, making their movements tight and cautious, but it was more than caution that had Miguel walking beside her. "Let me take you home," he said, his tone quiet but firm in its determination.It was then that Ximena turned to him, her eyes clouded with fatigue, but her appreciation shone through: "Gracias, Miguel. Me gustaría." The drive to her place was silent; each of them had his or her own thoughts. Miguel felt that the events of the night must have stirred memories and concerns, and he needed to take some of that load
Chapter 127: A Strategy Forged in TrustSometimes, sharing your burdens is the first step toward finding strength.Miguel turned his head and glanced across the table to Ximena, deep in a series of partnership reports spread before her. The soft hum of the office was soothing even as the challenges spread before them remained daunting. Antonio's Group had its share of threats, but Vega's incessant interference had taken that to a whole new level.They both knew the next moves they made would determine the future of the company, perhaps even their own relationship.Miguel spoke first. "I believe the time has come for us to whittle our focus down to those who prove to be our strongest partners. If we consolidate those alliances, it will make it harder for Vega to chip away at our base."Ximena nodded contemplatively, tapping a pen against her notebook. "Agreed. If we can cement those relationships, the weaker partners will see our strength and stability and be more apt to stay with us
Chapter 126: A Risky AllianceToday, though, he couldn’t let himself be distracted. Ximena had lined up her next series of client meetings, the aim of which was to keep Antonio's Group stable in light of Vega's continuing presence .He trod in the direction of Ximena's office, gathering himself for the battle that would take place during the day. She was already at her desk, eyes scanning over documents, her focus intense. Miguel admired her dedication, but he could see the weight of recent events in the slight shadows beneath her eyes. She looked up, giving him a nod as he took a seat."Good morning," he greeted her."Morning, Miguel," she said, giving him a slight smile. "Our top priority today is securing the last of our reluctant clients. If they remain on, it shows that Antonio's Group is steadfast, no matter how much Vega tries to shake us."Miguel nodded, his voice serious. "And if this goes through, this should also keep the confidence of the board up. We're close, Ximena.