Promise never fail

Venisa exhaled slowly, then looked toward Adrian while keeping the phone against her ear.

"Let him in."

Adrian nodded immediately. "Yes, Baroness."

He stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

Venisa returned her attention to the phone, hearing Tala's voice on the other end.

"You sound irritated."

Venisa leaned against the edge of her desk, glancing at the letter still lying before her.

"Tala, you called me while I was working. You should know better than to ask questions when you already know I'm busy."

Then Tala sighed.

"I wanted to ask if you were all right after last night."

Venisa's expression softened for a moment.

"I'm fine."

Before Tala could answer, there was a knock at the door.

Venisa looked toward it.

She already knew who it was.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Code Montenorie stepped inside, a thick brown envelope held firmly in one hand.

Venisa's eyes immediately went to it.

She already knew what it was.

Code approached her desk and placed the envelope in front of her.

"I came for this."

Venisa looked at the envelope, then slowly raised her eyes to him.

"I already told you, Code. I don't want to sign those documents."

"I know."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because you haven't changed your mind."

Venisa finally looked up at him.

"Exactly."

Code pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You refused to sign when I sent them to Greymore Estate."

"And I'm still refusing."

"You didn't even read the revised documents."

"I don't need to."

Her voice was calm, but firm.

"You named the entire network after my family without asking me, Code. You built something under the Greymore name and then expected me to put my signature beneath it as though that made everything acceptable."

Code remained silent for a moment.

"It was never about making you sign something you didn't want."

"Then stop bringing it to me."

Venisa pushed the envelope back toward him.

"I don't want that carrying my name."

Code looked down at the envelope, then slowly pushed it back toward her.

"And yet," he said quietly, "I promised you years ago that one day, the Greymore name would be attached to something the entire world would know."

Venisa's expression faltered for the briefest moment.

She remembered.

She hated that she remembered.

"That was years ago," she said.

"I know."

"And things changed."

Code met her eyes.

"I know that too."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Venisa glanced at the envelope again. "I still won't sign it."

Code leaned back slightly.

"I came prepared for that answer."

Venisa raised an eyebrow.

"Then why did you come?"

His gaze softened.

"Because I wanted you to hear it from me this time."

"Is Code there?" It was Tala

She didn't answer immediately.

That was answer enough.

Tala's voice became colder.

"You're actually letting him into your office?"

Venisa sighed.

"Tala, I am perfectly capable of dealing with Code."

There was a brief silence on the other end, as though Tala wanted to argue.

Before he could say another word, Venisa ended the call and placed her phone face down on the desk.

She exhaled slowly.

For a moment, she simply stared at it.

Then her eyes returned to Code, who had been watching the entire exchange with an unreadable expression.

"What?" Venisa asked.

Code leaned back in his chair, the faintest trace of amusement appearing on his face.

"Nothing."

"Then stop looking at me like that."

"I wasn't aware I was looking at you in any particular way."

"You were."

His smile deepened slightly.

"Perhaps I was just wondering how many people I need to compete with before I can have a five-minute conversation with you."

Venisa gave him a flat look.

"You're not competing with anyone."

"Good."

He glanced at the phone lying on her desk.

"Because I already have enough problems."

Venisa almost rolled her eyes.

"You are one of them."

Code sighed and opened the thick envelope, carefully placing the documents across Venisa's desk.

"Fine. Let me explain this properly."

Venisa folded her arms.

"The Aetherium Energy Network isn't simply another Montenorie project," Code began. "It is a joint development between several major houses, investors, and technological firms. The network is designed to connect several regions through a centralized energy system, making distribution faster, more stable, and considerably less dependent on the existing infrastructure."

Venisa glanced over the first few pages.

"And what does that have to do with me?"

"Everything."

Her eyes lifted toward him.

Code continued, his voice steady.

"When I established Aetherium, I deliberately registered the principal holding under the Greymore name. That means the Greymore estate isn't merely a beneficiary. It is one of the principal parties attached to the network."

Venisa's expression hardened.

"Which is exactly why I refused to sign."

"I know."

"Then you understand my objection."

"I understand it perfectly."

Code turned another page.

"But without your signature, the Greymore holding cannot be formally activated."

Venisa frowned.

"Why?"

"Because you're the current Baroness of Greymore. Your grandmother's estate, enterprises, properties, and family interests all transferred to you. The legal authority attached to the Greymore name now belongs to you."

He tapped the document.

"This requires the current holder of the title to authorize the use of the family name and its associated assets."

Venisa looked down at the signature line.

"You could have used the Montenorie name."

"I could have."

"Then why didn't you?"

Code was quiet for a moment.

"Because I didn't want it to be mine."

Venisa looked at him.

Code met her eyes.

"I wanted it to be ours."

Her expression immediately became guarded.

"This is business, Code."

"I know."

"Then keep it that way."

His jaw tightened slightly, but he nodded. "Fine. Business."

He pointed toward the documents.

"The Greymore share gives you voting authority over the network's western division, access to its financial reports, and a permanent seat on the governing board. Your signature also gives you the right to approve or reject major changes involving the Greymore holding."

Venisa's eyes narrowed as she read further.

"You're giving me control."

"I'm giving you what the Greymore name is entitled to."

"And what do you get?"

Code leaned back.

"The Montenorie side retains operational control and technological management."

"So you still control the entire network."

"The day-to-day operations, yes."

Venisa looked at him sharply.

"But not the Greymore holding."

"No."

He paused. "That's why I need you to sign."

Venisa slowly placed the document back on the desk.

"And if I don't?"

Code's expression became serious.

"Then the Greymore portion remains inactive, the agreement cannot be finalized, and the entire expansion will be delayed."

Venisa stared at him.

"You're asking me to put my family's name on something that could affect thousands of people."

"Yes."

"And you're expecting me to sign because you promised me something years ago?"

"No."

Code's voice softened.

"I'm asking you to sign because you're the Baroness of Greymore now."

That answer caught her off guard.

He continued.

"I'm not asking the girl I knew years ago to fulfill an old promise. I'm asking the woman sitting in front of me—the woman who runs the the enterprises and the Guild—to decide whether this is something her family should be part of."

Venisa said nothing.

Code pushed the documents slightly closer to her.

"You don't have to trust me."

Her eyes met his.

"But you should at least read what you're being asked to sign."

Venisa looked down at the papers again.

For the first time since he entered the room, she reached for the first document.

Venisa read every page carefully before finally taking the pen from its holder. One by one, she signed each document, her signature steady despite the thoughts turning over in her mind. When she reached the final page, she placed the pen down and leaned back in her chair.

"There," she said quietly. "It's done."

Code gathered the documents from the desk and checked the signatures, making sure every page had been completed properly. Satisfied, he placed them back inside the thick envelope.

"Thank you."

Venisa said nothing.

Code stepped around the desk and stopped beside her. Before she could ask what he was doing, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead.

Venisa immediately looked up at him.

"Code—"

"I was about to leave."

He turned toward the door, the envelope tucked beneath his arm, but stopped with his hand resting against the handle.

For a moment, he didn't look back.

Then he said quietly, "Remember what I promised you before."

Venisa's expression changed.

Code finally glanced over his shoulder.

"I'll build an empire for you."

Something inside her went still.

The words struck deeper than they should have.

Not because they were romantic.

Because she remembered them.

Venisa suddenly stood.

"What the fuck, Code?"