Chapter 9 A delicate alliance

Lillian and Rani continue to chat; Lillian's mind wanders to the upcoming meeting with Vincent. She had heard rumors about his ruthless business tactics, but she was determined to stay focused on the project's goals. "Rani, I need to get ready for this meeting," Lillian says after eating breakfast. Rani nods, still grinning mischievously. "Go get it, Lillian! And don't forget to wear your best 'I'm a boss' face." Lillian laughs and heads to the bathroom to freshen up. As she stares at her reflection, she feels a surge of confidence.

She was ready to take on this project and show Vincent Hanstrup that she was a force to be reckoned with. She begins to go over some documents that Bella had sent to her.

Lillian's mind flashes back to the conversation she had with her cousin. Immediately, she abandons what she is working on and heads for Rani's room. She knocks and enters. "Rani, did you open a dating profile for me without my consent?" Lillian asks, her voice firm but amused. "Yes." Rani replies in a low tone. "And I found a great match for you! She continued, her voice showing she was nervous. Lillian rolls her eyes. "A match? You mean a random guy you thought I'd like? Without even asking me?" Rani lowers her gaze. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it without telling you, Lili. But I just wanted you to meet someone new, even if it's just temporary or fake." Lillian sighs, shaking her head. "Rani, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but my love life is not a project for you to manage. Got it?" Rani nods, looking chastened. "Got it. Sorry, Lili. But did you reply?" "I don't even know what to say," Lillian shrugs. "Just let it flow freely, okay? No pressure," Rani advises. "Enough about me; how are the engagement party plans going?" she asks, trying to distract herself from her nerves. Rani's face lit up. "Oh, Lili, I'm so glad you asked! The event planner and I have been talking about decorations and the guest list. Lillian smiles, happy to help. "How's it going?" As they chatted about the party plans, Rani's eyes sparkled with excitement. "You know what? I have the perfect idea for your outfit for the party. I'll design a beautiful dress for you!" Lillian's eyes widened in surprise. "Rani, that's so sweet of you! But are you sure you have time for that?" Rani nods enthusiastically. "Absolutely! I'll make it a priority. And I know exactly what style would suit you: something elegant and sophisticated, with a touch of glamor." Lillian couldn't help but feel touched by her cousin's thoughtful gesture. "Thank you, Rani. That means a lot to me." Rani's eyes sparkled with creativity. "I see it now, a stunning gold saree design outfit with a hint of lace and a subtle sparkle of crystal stones. It'll accentuate your curves and make you feel like a million bucks!" Lillian laughs. "You're a true designer at heart, Rani. I can't wait to see what you create!" "I need to start creating my patterns now, and yes, the fabric will be ordered from India. Go back to preparing for your meeting so that I can enter into designer state!"Rani urges Lillian. Lillian goes back to her room and continues going over the files.

Her mind drifts to what Rani told her, and she decides to reply. The guy was not boring at all, and he seemed to know a lot about art. His username is Vee. Lillian guessed it was a short form of his name, but she liked it. She wondered what his full name was. She decides that she would converse with him regularly. Her mind also drifts to how her father would react when he hears that she would have to partner with Hanscorp. She is aware that her father never really crossed paths with the former CEO of Hanscorp, Dennis, when he too was the CEO of Artverse. Mr. Arturo checks his phone and sees that Lillian called. He can't answer her call because he is in a serious meeting.

Alberto Arturo and Dennis Hanstrup, two powerful mafia leaders, sit in a lavish conference room, their eyes locked in a tense stare. Mr. Hanstrup's son, Vincent, the current CEO of the family business, stood before them, his face strained. "Gentlemen," Vincent began, "we need to put our differences aside and work together. The art market is too lucrative to let our personal vendettas get in the way." Dennis nodded in agreement. "Our families have been at odds for too long. It's time to forge an alliance for the sake of our businesses and our families' futures." Alberto Arturo snorted. "You expect me to trust you, Dennis? After what you did to my family?" Dennis's face darkens. "And what about what you did to my company? The blood feud between us runs deep." Vincent steps forward, his voice firm. "That's exactly why we need to put the past behind us. We can't let history dictate our future. We must work together for the sake of our families' legacies."

He makes eye contact with his father, who wears a grumpy face. Dennis adds reluctantly, "And for the sake of our own children's futures at least. We owe it to them to make peace." The two mafias glared at each other, their expressions unyielding. But slowly, a glimmer of understanding seemed to dawn on them. They nodded, almost imperceptibly, and the tension in the room began to dissipate. "Very well," Vincent says finally. "Let us put our differences aside and work together. For the sake of our families and our businesses. The project that I and Miss Arturo will work on is very important and will profit both companies. So it's best we move forward. Dennis extended a hand, and Alberto Arturo reluctantly took it, sealing the fragile truce. Vincent breathed a sigh of relief as the two mafias's animosity seemed to dissipate, replaced by a tentative understanding. But the question lingered: how long would this fragile peace last? All that Vincent wished was that the peace would at least last for a while.