Taming My Sugar Mommy
Chapter 59: The Board Meeting 2

Chapter 59: The Board Meeting 2

Isabella walked into the boardroom with a confidence she didn’t entirely feel. The Ashworth Luxury Events board members were already seated, their expressions a mix of skepticism and concern. She placed a sleek leather portfolio on the table, making eye contact with each person.

"Good morning," she began, her voice steady. "Before we get to the financial oversight discussion, I have an announcement that may change our trajectory entirely."

Edwin Cartwright snorted. "Another extravagant expense to justify?"

Isabella didn’t take the bait. Instead, she opened her portfolio and slid several documents across the table.

"Ashworth Luxury Events is entering preliminary discussions for a strategic partnership with Davies Tech."

The room fell silent. Jonathan Pierce picked up the document, adjusting his glasses.

"Davies Tech?" Victoria Hargrove’s eyebrows shot up. "The same Davies that’s revolutionizing digital experiences for luxury brands?"

Isabella nodded. "The very same. They’re interested in incorporating their immersive technology into our exclusive events." She paused for effect. "With potential for a merger in the near future."

Edwin’s face flushed red. "This is... unexpected." His eyes narrowed as he studied Isabella’s confident demeanor. ’How did she manage to pull this together so quickly?’ he wondered. ’I’d bet my fortune Seraphina had a hand in this. She is always been thick as thieves.’

"As you can see," Isabella continued smoothly, "the partnership would immediately boost our market position. It addresses the liquidity concerns while opening entirely new revenue streams."

She walked them through the proposal with practiced precision, answering questions with confident responses. The initial hostility gradually transformed into cautious optimism—even Edwin’s objections became less frequent as the presentation progressed.

Jonathan looked impressed. "This could be exactly what we need. How did this opportunity materialize so quickly?"

Isabella caught Liam’s eye from where he stood by the door. "Let’s just say I have connections that saw the potential synergy between our brands."

Edwin leaned back in his chair, eyes darting between Isabella and Liam. ’Seraphina’s fingerprints are all over this. That woman has connections everywhere.’

By the end of the meeting, the board voted to postpone the financial oversight decision pending the development of the Davies partnership. As they filed out, Isabella maintained her professional demeanor, but inside, adrenaline coursed through her veins.

She’d bought time. But at what cost?

Liam approached as the last board member left. "That went better than expected," he said quietly.

"Seraphina’s plan worked," Isabella replied, gathering her documents. "For now."

"And when they want to meet with Davies?"

She slipped the papers into her portfolio. "We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it."

The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and phone calls. Isabella worked with fierce concentration, pushing away thoughts of both the looming deception and her evening plans with Liam. By six o’clock, most of the staff had left, but light still spilled from her office.

"You should go home," Liam said from her doorway. "Prepare for our... strategy session."

Something in his tone made her look up. He stood with one shoulder against the doorframe, his jacket off and sleeves rolled up. The evening light cast shadows across his face, highlighting the strong line of his jaw.

"I’m almost finished here," she replied, their eyes meeting with the familiar intensity that had defined their relationship for the past year.

Liam checked his watch. "Eight o’clock, right?"

Isabella nodded, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "Eight o’clock. My place."

After he left, she sat back in her chair, staring out at the city lights beginning to flicker on. ’This Davies deception is dangerous enough,’ she thought. ’But Liam?’ Their relationship had already complicated everything since that first night together at her penthouse last year.

Yet she couldn’t deny the electricity that still sparked between them, or the anticipation she felt about seeing him tonight. Away from the office. Alone. Again.

By seven-thirty, Isabella was home, having showered and changed into dark jeans and a cashmere sweater that slipped slightly off one shoulder. She poured herself a glass of wine, trying to calm her nerves despite the familiarity of the situation.

The intercom buzzed precisely at eight. Liam was nothing if not punctual.

"Come up," she said, pressing the button to unlock the building’s entrance.

She took a steadying breath, straightening her sweater and running a hand through her hair before opening the door. Liam stood in the hallway, a bottle of wine in one hand. He’d changed too—dark jeans and a charcoal henley that fit him perfectly.

"Right on time," she said, stepping back to let him in.

"Always." He handed her the wine. "I thought we might need this for our... discussion."

The slight emphasis on the last word wasn’t lost on her. They’d been playing this game for a year now—the pretense of professional meetings giving way to something far more intimate, ever since that first night he’d come to her penthouse to review quarterly projections and ended up staying until morning.

"I already opened something, but we can have this too." She led him into her penthouse living room, where floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the glittering cityscape below.

Liam let out a low whistle. "No matter how many times I’ve been here, that view still gets me."

"It’s why I bought the place." She poured him a glass of wine and topped off her own. "To the Davies partnership that doesn’t exist."

A shadow crossed his face as he took the glass. "Isabella—"

"I know, I know. You don’t approve." She moved to the window, looking out at the city. "But it worked. You saw their faces."

"For now," he said, coming to stand beside her, close enough that their shoulders brushed. "But lies have a way of unraveling."

Isabella turned to face him. "Is that why you’re here? To warn me again?"

Liam took a sip of his wine, his eyes never leaving hers. "I think we both know why I’m here."

The air between them seemed to charge with electricity—the same tension that had first sparked in this very room a year ago, that had continued on a private jet to Dubai, and countless times since.

"Then why the pretense, Liam?" Her voice was softer than intended.

He set his glass down on a nearby table. "Because despite everything—despite the risks you’re taking with this Davies scheme, despite my better judgment—" He stepped closer. "This thing between us doesn’t seem to burn itself out."

Isabella’s heart hammered against her ribs. "It’s been a year."

"A year," he agreed, his hand finding her waist with the confidence of someone who had touched her many times before. "And I still can’t stay away."

She set her glass down next to his. "I don’t want you to stay away."

His finger traced along her collarbone, following the edge of her sweater where it slipped off her shoulder. "This Davies deception—it’s dangerous, Isabella."

"So is this," she whispered, gesturing between them.

"We crossed that line a long time ago." His hand slid to the nape of her neck, drawing her closer.

Isabella’s hands found his chest, feeling the familiar contours beneath the soft fabric. "The company—"

"Can wait until morning." His voice was low, almost a growl.

Their faces were inches apart now, the pretense of business fully abandoned. Isabella knew she should consider the complications, the potential fallout, especially with the Davies deception adding new risks.

"We shouldn’t keep doing this," she whispered, even as her body betrayed her words.

"Yet here we are," Liam replied, his eyes darkening as they dropped to her lips. "Again."

And then his lips were on hers with the familiar hunger that had characterized their relationship from the start. His kiss was confident, commanding—born of the knowledge of exactly what she wanted. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him as the kiss deepened.

Isabella’s hands moved up to his shoulders, then to his hair, her fingers threading through it as a year of forbidden passion continued to burn between them.

’Just one more night,’ she told herself, knowing full well it was a lie.