Taming My Sugar Mommy
Chapter 66: Friend or enemy

Chapter 66: Friend or enemy

The Palladian Hotel’s breakfast terrace offered a sweeping view of the city skyline, the morning sun turning glass skyscrapers into pillars of light. Isabella arrived fifteen minutes early, selecting a corner table that allowed her to observe the entire space. Old habits died hard, especially after last night.

She ordered coffee and watched as the city stirred to life below. Despite her exhaustion, her mind remained sharp, cataloging possibilities, weighing risks. When Seraphina finally appeared, gliding across the terrace in a cream silk suit, Isabella felt an uncomfortable twinge of doubt. Twenty years of friendship, and now she was questioning everything.

"Darling," Seraphina air-kissed both her cheeks, her perfume a familiar cloud of jasmine and sandalwood. "You look exhausted. Was the event that demanding?"

Isabella smiled thinly. "Events are never just events anymore."

Seraphina settled into her chair, ordering an espresso and fresh juice before turning her full attention to Isabella. "I hear the Davies team made quite an impression."

"They did," Isabella replied carefully. "Though I was more surprised by who else decided to attend."

"Oh?" Seraphina raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"David showed up. Uninvited. Again." Isabella watched her friend’s face closely. "He had quite a lot to say about Davies."

If Seraphina was surprised, she concealed it masterfully. "David always did enjoy making an entrance. What pearls of wisdom did your ex-husband bestow this time?"

"He suggested I reconsider the partnership." Isabella sipped her coffee. "Said Davies isn’t who I think he is."

Seraphina rolled her eyes. "David would say anything to derail your success. He never could stand that you flourished after the divorce."

Their breakfast arrived—avocado toast for Seraphina, nothing for Isabella. She was too restless to eat.

"The thing is," Isabella continued, "he seemed to know details about the negotiation. Things I haven’t discussed with anyone outside my immediate team."

"Information leaks." Seraphina shrugged, cutting her toast into precise triangles. "Especially when the stakes are high. Speaking of which, I was planning to talk to Samuel today. If there are specific issues with the contract, I might be able to... smooth things over."

Isabella leaned forward slightly. "What’s your stake in this, Sera? You introduced us, pushed for this partnership from the beginning. Why?"

"Because I care about you and your company," Seraphina answered, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. "Davies Tech can solve your liquidity problems without you losing control. Isn’t that what you wanted?"

"What I want," Isabella said carefully, "is to understand why Davies seems to know exactly where to press. It’s as if he has access to our internal discussions."

Seraphina set down her fork. "Are you suggesting I’ve been feeding him information?"

"I’m not suggesting anything. I’m trying to make sense of a situation that increasingly doesn’t add up."

"We’ve been friends for twenty years, Isabella." Seraphina’s voice cooled several degrees. "If you don’t trust me by now, perhaps we should reconsider our relationship—both personal and professional."

Isabella’s phone chimed—a reminder of her upcoming meeting with Davies. She silenced it, studying her oldest friend. Once, she would have trusted Seraphina with her life. Now, doubt crept in like smoke under a door.

"Trust is becoming a rare commodity these days," Isabella said finally. "I need to go. I have a meeting with Davies."

"Isabella." Seraphina caught her wrist as she stood. "Be careful with Samuel. He respects strength, but he exploits weakness. Don’t let him see you’re afraid."

Isabella gently pulled away. "I stopped being afraid a long time ago, Sera. You should remember that.

Samuel Davies’ private office occupied the entire top floor of the Davies Tech tower. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered panoramic views of the city, while the décor—sleek, minimalist, and coldly elegant—spoke to a man who valued precision above comfort.

A young assistant with a practiced smile escorted Isabella through glass doors that whispered open at their approach. Davies stood as she entered, his handshake firm, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

"Isabella. I appreciate you making time for this."

"It seemed necessary," she replied coolly, taking the offered seat across from his desk. "Especially given certain... irregularities in the proposed contract."

Davies’ smile didn’t waver. "Business is rarely straightforward. But I’m confident we can reach an arrangement that benefits us both."

Isabella placed her tablet on the desk between them. "Let’s be direct, Samuel. These three clauses are unacceptable." She slid the tablet toward him, the screen displaying the marked sections. "They essentially give Davies Tech control over Ashworth’s client data, our proprietary event management systems, and our creative content. I’m not here to sell my company—I’m here to form a partnership."

Davies glanced at the tablet, seemingly unsurprised by her objections. "These provisions exist to ensure seamless integration of our technologies. Your clients expect a certain level of personalization that only comprehensive data sharing can provide."

"My clients expect their privacy to be protected," Isabella countered. "And I expect my company’s intellectual property to remain our own."

Davies leaned back, studying her with an intensity that made her skin crawl. "You’re in a precarious position, Isabella. Your company’s financials aren’t as robust as your public image suggests."

The statement hung in the air between them. Isabella kept her expression neutral despite the alarm bells ringing in her mind. Those figures weren’t public knowledge.

"I’m aware of my company’s position," she said evenly. "Which is precisely why I’m not willing to compromise its future value for short-term liquidity."

"Interesting perspective," Davies said, tapping his fingers against the glass desk. "Especially considering the Morgan investment fell through last quarter. And the expansion into Asian markets didn’t yield the projected returns. And then there’s the matter of the Dubai event’s unexpected cost overruns."

Each statement landed like a precise blow. The Morgan negotiation had been conducted with absolute confidentiality. The Asian market projections were discussed only in closed board meetings. The Dubai cost issues had been identified just last week in internal reports.

"You seem remarkably well-informed about Ashworth’s internal matters," Isabella observed, her voice dangerously calm.

Davies smiled, a predator’s smile. "I believe in thorough due diligence. It would be irresponsible to enter into a partnership without understanding all the variables."

"Due diligence is one thing. This level of insight suggests you have sources inside my organization."

"We all have our resources," Davies replied smoothly. "The question is, what are you going to do with this information? Your shareholders are growing restless. The Q3 projections aren’t promising. Without significant capital infusion, you’ll face difficult decisions by year’s end."

Isabella stood, gathering her tablet. "I think we’re done here."

Davies remained seated, unperturbed. "You’re making a mistake, Isabella. My offer won’t improve with time."