TBG - Chapter 15: Unveiled Intentions

The room fell into a heavy silence the moment the glass doors opened.

Theodore Thatcher entered, his tall, commanding presence immediately drawing everyone’s attention. His icy blue eyes swept over the room with that detached air of superiority that everyone had grown accustomed to. But what truly stunned the gathered business partners wasn’t just Theodore—it was the woman at his side.

Nadia Vaccaro.

Her grace was undeniable, each step she took exuding confidence and composure. She had been prepared for this moment—every question, every challenge—carefully coached by Miranda. She stood tall, confident in her answers, though her heart raced beneath the practiced facade. If anyone expected to rattle her, they would be disappointed.

Theodore stopped in the middle of the room, releasing her hand with an almost dismissive gesture. His expression remained cold, unbothered.

“This is Nadia Vaccaro,” he said in his usual tone, devoid of warmth. “My fiancée.”

The room seemed to freeze. Not because of the announcement, but because this was the first time anyone had seen Theodore bring a woman into his inner circle. The power dynamics were shifting, but this new revelation left everyone stunned.

Victor Thatcher, Theodore’s uncle, immediately seized the opportunity to challenge the situation. He stepped forward, eyeing Nadia with suspicion. “Your fiancée?” he repeated, his voice dripping with disbelief. “Tell me, where do you come from?”

Nadia’s smile remained flawless, her voice calm and controlled. “I’m from Russia.”

“Russia,” Victor echoed, his gaze narrowing. “And what businesses are you involved in there?” His tone was sharp, probing.

Nadia stood unwavering. “I own several businesses—luxury hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg, investments in tech, and the energy sector. I’ve been in business for nearly ten years now.” Her words were measured, confident.

Victor raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised, but quickly masked it. “Quite an impressive portfolio. And how did you come to meet Theodore?”

Nadia didn’t hesitate. “At a charity event in New York,” she answered smoothly. “We were both supporting a children’s relief fund. Theodore’s commitment to charity struck me.”

Victor seemed unimpressed. “Philanthropy? I didn’t take Theodore for a man with those sorts of interests.”

Before Nadia could respond, Theodore’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp. “You’ve never bothered to look close enough, have you?”

Victor’s eyes flickered with irritation. He was about to retort when Theodore’s voice dropped, more dangerously. “This is none of your business, Victor. You don’t get to interrogate her.”

The silence that followed was thick with tension. The entire room shifted uncomfortably, unsure whether to speak or stay silent. But Theodore was not done.

Nadia stood her ground, perfectly composed, not a flicker of discomfort in her demeanor. She knew how to handle these questions. She had rehearsed them all, with Miranda’s meticulous guidance.

Victor, sensing that his previous line of questioning had not gone as planned, glared at Theodore. “You’re really going to shield her from some simple questions?”

Theodore’s gaze was icy. “Don’t push me, Victor.”

The tension was palpable when the doors suddenly opened again, and Drake Thatcher walked in, casually adjusting his cufflinks.

“Apologies for being late,” Drake said, his usual carefree attitude present, though it faltered when his gaze landed on Nadia. His eyes widened, and recognition dawned.

“Well, well, well,” Drake said with a smirk, stepping closer. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Nadia’s expression remained neutral, though her mind raced. The supermarket. She kept her calm, her voice steady. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Drake’s grin only grew wider. “Oh, I remember you,” he said, his gaze lingering. “From the supermarket. You made quite an impression on me.”

Nadia’s heart raced, but she refused to let it show. She had been in tough situations before. This was no different.

Theodore’s voice, cold and clipped, interrupted the exchange. “Drake, you’re late. Don’t waste my time.”

Drake’s grin faltered, but he quickly recovered. “Of course, cousin. Just reminiscing.”

Victor, having taken in the exchange, shot an inquisitive look between Nadia and Drake. “It seems there’s more to Miss Vaccaro than we’re being told,” he remarked.

Theodore’s glare was ice-cold. “You’ll keep your opinions to yourself, Victor. This is my office, not a gossip circle.”

Theodore’s expression remained cold, detached. It was a rare sight for his business partners, who had never seen him bring a woman into this domain. Nadia walked beside him with poise, her nerves masked by the professional training Miranda had provided.

As they walked toward the long table, Theodore’s gaze shifted to the chair at the head of the table—the one that was reserved for the CEO, the most powerful position in the room. He approached it without hesitation, and just as he was about to take his seat, he noticed Victor sitting in the chair on his right, the one meant for the second-highest-ranking individual.

Theodore’s gaze turned icy, his voice calm but firm as he addressed his uncle. “Victor,” he began, his eyes narrowing. “That seat is reserved for someone else today. Kindly move.”

Victor blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard. He opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it, sensing the authority in Theodore’s tone. “Why?” he asked, his voice carrying a hint of defiance.

Without flinching, Theodore gestured to Nadia beside him. “Nadia will be sitting there. By next month, she’ll be my wife, and this position will be hers.”

The room was stunned into silence. Victor’s jaw tightened, his pride bruised by the public display. But, seeing that Theodore wasn’t backing down, he reluctantly stood up from the chair and moved to sit at another place, his irritation evident.

The meeting room was tense, the air thick with anticipation. Drake stood at the front, confidently presenting his proposal for the company’s future. He’d been planning this for months, fine-tuning every detail, convinced that it was the key to taking the Thatcher empire to the next level.

“We’re looking at rapid growth,” Drake began, his voice firm and self-assured. “This plan will scale our businesses faster than any of our competitors. We’ll push into new markets, invest heavily in technology, and double our revenue within the next two years. The numbers are clear—we can’t go wrong with this approach.”

He clicked a button, and a series of charts flashed on the screen behind him, showing optimistic projections. “The data doesn’t lie. With the right investment and a streamlined process, we’ll be at the top in no time.”

Everyone in the room nodded, clearly impressed by Drake’s confidence. But Theodore sat in the back, his gaze cold and calculating as he listened. He wasn’t moved by the numbers or Drake’s smooth presentation. He was here to make sure this plan was worthy of the Thatcher legacy—and so far, it wasn’t.

After a few moments, Theodore leaned forward slightly, his piercing eyes never leaving the screen. “Let’s stop here for a moment,” Theodore said, his voice cutting through the room like a sharp knife. “Drake, you’ve proposed expanding at a rapid pace. But tell me—where exactly is this expansion going? You’re talking about new markets, but which ones? Are we looking at well-researched, sustainable growth, or just blindly throwing money at whatever seems profitable?”

Drake hesitated for a moment, his confident façade faltering slightly. “Well, we’ll target emerging markets. Some of these countries are growing quickly, and the data shows huge potential for profit—”

Theodore cut him off, his voice calm but with an edge of authority. “Emerging markets, yes. But you’re basing this on data that assumes rapid expansion will be sustainable without considering long-term risks. Have you accounted for the political instability in these regions? Have you thought about the potential for a backlash against foreign companies? Or how your projections might look if there’s an economic downturn?”

Drake stammered, trying to recover. “We’ve planned for risk mitigation—”

“No, you haven’t,” Theodore interrupted, his voice sharper now. “You’re focusing on quick returns, but at what cost? Rapid growth isn’t always the answer. The reality is, scaling too quickly can lead to failure, especially when you don’t have the infrastructure to support it.”

The room fell silent. Everyone was watching the interaction unfold. Drake’s face reddened with frustration as Theodore’s criticisms cut deeper.

“Do you even know the businesses we’re dealing with here?” Theodore continued, his gaze unwavering. “You’re talking about huge investments with no clear understanding of what makes each business unique. You’ve thrown together a plan that looks good on paper, but lacks the depth needed for the kind of success we’re aiming for.”

Drake, now visibly rattled, tried to salvage his position. “But the numbers—”

“The numbers don’t matter if the foundation isn’t solid,” Theodore snapped. “You’re treating this like a numbers game, but there’s more to business than spreadsheets and charts. It’s about strategy, understanding the risks, and building long-term stability. This plan... lacks foresight.”

The room shifted uncomfortably. The respect for Drake’s confidence had quickly turned into doubt. Theodore’s criticisms were not only valid but well-argued. Drake felt the sting of humiliation as he realized his plan was being dismantled piece by piece.

Nadia, who had been silently observing the exchange, couldn’t help but admire how composed Theodore was. Every word he spoke carried weight. There was no arrogance in his tone, only a sharp, practical understanding of the business. She saw it now, the intelligence and experience that had brought Theodore to the position he held. He wasn’t just reacting to Drake’s plan—he was questioning it, probing its weaknesses, and exposing them.

Drake, unable to recover from Theodore’s barrage of critiques, glanced at the table, his frustration mounting. “I—I still believe this approach could work, Theo,” he muttered, clearly trying to salvage his pride.

“The plan doesn’t work,” Theodore said flatly. “It’s not about belief, it’s about what will actually drive the company forward. This isn’t it.”

Drake swallowed his pride, his face a mixture of anger and embarrassment. He had thought this was the breakthrough they needed, but Theodore had effortlessly torn it apart. Theodore’s clarity and intelligence were undeniable—and it was clear now that Drake’s vision, no matter how well-intentioned, didn’t have the substance to stand up to Theodore’s scrutiny.

As the room simmered with the aftershock of Theodore’s disapproval, Nadia couldn’t help but feel a new level of respect for him. She had seen how intelligent he was, but witnessing his ability to analyze and dissect complex situations with such precision left her in awe. Theodore was, without a doubt, a force to be reckoned with.

Drake, on the other hand, was left to pick up the pieces of his plan, his confidence shattered.