Chapter 3 Like Father, Like Daughter
Elara stepped out of the Blackwood Heritage Group building, her back drenched in sweat.
She replayed the conversation in her mind, checking if she had shown any signs of weakness.
The pressure from Kieran was intense, but if she appeared too fragile, he might impose even harsher conditions.
After a night of contemplation, Elara had an idea why Kieran wanted to meet her before she arrived at Blackwood Heritage Group.
Elara took a gamble, betting that Kieran was interested in her professional expertise.
While it seemed like Kieran had her cornered, Elara had her plans and was prepared for anything.
Over the past few years, Blackwood Heritage Group had approached Elara several times, hoping to discuss collaboration and offering her a position at Blackwood Convergence with a salary several times higher than the market rate.
The catch was signing a non-compete agreement, which would prevent her from working for any of Kieran's competitors.
Elara had always refused. She had her career aspirations in art restoration and artifact preservation, and didn't want to be tied down by anyone.
She knew that the high salary came at the cost of her freedom and potentially more unforeseen risks.
The thought made her break out in a cold sweat; what if Kieran's offer wasn't what she expected?
If that were the case, Elara would be completely at his mercy.
This was a gamble, and gambles had winners and losers. This time, Elara had won.
Just then, her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.
[Nice performance, but your attempt to stay calm was a bit forced. Your father is already home.]
Elara broke out in another cold sweat.
Kieran had seen through her act all along and had been applying psychological pressure during the negotiation.
He was terrifying.
She pondered whether to respond.
"Elara! Elara!"
Sylvia Blackwood, dressed in business attire with light makeup and an air of efficiency, came running towards her, her high heels clicking rapidly on the pavement.
Without a word, Sylvia grabbed Elara's shoulders, looking her over as if checking for missing pieces.
Elara smiled and teased:.
"I just went to Blackwood Heritage Group, not a big deal. Look at you, all worried. Kieran had someone bring my dad back. He'll be home by noon."
"Oh my God, what a nightmare it is dealing with someone like that!"
Sylvia frowned, scrutinizing Elara.
The usually strong Elara had tears welling up in her eyes.
"Do you even know Kieran's reputation in Vossshire? Everyone shudders at his name. He's notorious, feared in both the underworld and the business world. I've never dared to interview him!"
The two had been friends since elementary school, attending the same schools and sharing the same dorms through college.
Elara majored in archaeology and history, while Sylvia studied journalism and became a well-known independent journalist after graduation.
"Maybe you should interview him?"
Elara suggested tentatively.
"No way, spare me. I don't want anything to do with him."
Sylvia shook her head vigorously, then suddenly widened her eyes in surprise.
"You don't mean Kieran... Oh my God, he's Vossshire's infamous playboy... You didn't..."
"What are you thinking? We just met today! I was just saying!"
Elara quickly stopped Sylvia's wild imagination, then remembered Kieran's text, frowning slightly.
"I can't figure out why Kieran went to such lengths to force me into Blackwood Heritage Group."
Elara had already told Sylvia everything over the phone last night, including Kieran's potential motives. While Elara had her suspicions, the scale of Kieran's actions seemed excessive.
In Elara's view, Blackwood Heritage Group didn't need to go to such extremes, even risking Thorne's imprisonment to coerce her.
"Let's get in the car and talk on the way."
Sylvia said, pulling Elara into the car. Sylvia drove while Elara sat in the passenger seat.
"Let's hypothesize. Suppose there's a person named Elara. Her father is a top-notch art restorer, her mother a leading archaeology PhD, and Elara holds dual bachelor's degrees in archaeology and history, and dual master's degrees, inheriting her parents' exceptional talents. She's a rising star in her field, outshining her peers and even making the older generation envious. She's also very attractive and has unintentionally become a social media influencer."
Sylvia glanced at Elara while driving.
"Such a person, refusing to join any company, stubbornly following her father's footsteps as a freelancer, starting her studio. In today's business environment, who would tolerate that? Maybe she just wants to do her work, but those businesspeople don't see it that way. Who would allow an uncontrollable potential competitor to grow?"
Elara was silent. She understood the logic but hadn't expected it to happen to her.
"From a business perspective, Blackwood Heritage Group's repeated invitations and now this blatant threat are clear. If you don't agree..." Sylvia didn't finish her sentence.
"Whose side are you on?"
Elara frowned, playfully hitting Sylvia, feigning anger.
"Just a hypothesis. I'm helping you see the situation. So, what's your plan?"
"What's my plan?" Elara felt lost.
In less than 24 hours, her life had turned into a nightmare, but it had also made her realize many things. Her past persistence seemed overly idealistic, even naive.
"If they came once, they'll come again. A small boat in the vast ocean will eventually be swallowed by the waves. It's better to follow the big ship for now. Since I agreed to Kieran, I'll see it through."
Sylvia sighed, "I feel for you; sometimes being talented can attract unwanted problems."Soon, they arrived at Elara's home.
Her studio was in the city, but her family lived in a quiet suburban house, away from the hustle and bustle, which suited them.
The house's windows were open, and an elderly man with graying hair was examining a painting with a magnifying glass, looking nothing like someone who had just been released from the police station.
Seeing this, Elara smiled softly, feeling much more at ease. Suddenly, she frowned and hurried inside.
"Dad! That painting just came from the studio. Don't open it carelessly. What if it oxidizes?"
Watching Elara's figure, Sylvia rolled her eyes but smiled.
"Like father, like daughter!"