De Carcacel

Several weeks passed, and life at the Greymore Grand Exchange returned to its usual rhythm.

Venisa remained as busy as ever, moving from one meeting to another, reviewing contracts, overseeing the Exchange's operations, and attending to the endless responsibilities. The matter concerning the Aetherium Energy Network had been finalized, but she deliberately kept her distance from Code, refusing to let his promises occupy more of her thoughts than necessary.

Then, one morning, another letter arrived.

Adrian entered her office carrying a cream-colored envelope sealed with dark red wax.

"Baroness."

Venisa looked up from the documents spread across her desk.

"What is it?"

"A letter from the De Valcárcel household."

Her pen stopped.

For a moment, she simply stared at the envelope.

Then she held out her hand.

Adrian placed it in her palm.

Venisa broke the seal and unfolded the letter, her eyes moving steadily across the page. The De Valcárcel family had formally requested a meeting with her, expressing their desire to discuss a matter concerning their two noble houses.

Venisa leaned back in her chair.

So, they had finally decided to approach her directly.

She wasn't surprised.

After all, Alejandro had already made his interest in her rather clear.

Venisa folded the letter neatly.

"Send them an invitation."

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"To the Greymore estate?"

"No."

She glanced around her office.

"Here."

"The GGE?"

"Yes."

Venisa placed the letter beside her documents.

"If they wish to discuss matters concerning the Greymore family, they can do so at the Greymore Grand Exchange."

Adrian nodded.

"Understood. Shall I arrange a private meeting room?"

"A formal one."

"Of course."

Venisa returned her attention to her work, but a faint smile lingered on her lips.

If the De Valcárcels wished to speak with the Baroness of Greymore, then she would receive them properly.

On her own ground.

At her own establishment.

And under her own rules.

The De Valcárcel family arrived at the Greymore Grand Exchange on the exact date stated in Venisa's invitation.

The arrival was impossible to overlook.

A long procession of black luxury vehicles entered the private driveway one after another, their polished bodies reflecting the afternoon sunlight. Several security vehicles followed behind, while two additional cars carried attendants and members of the De Valcárcel household.

Employees inside the GGE began quietly gathering near the windows, curious about the distinguished visitors who had arrived with such ceremony.

The first vehicle stopped directly before the main entrance.

Two attendants stepped forward and opened the rear doors.

A tall, silver-haired man stepped out first.

He was Don Fernando de Valcárcel, the patriarch of the family and father of Alejandro. He carried himself with the quiet authority of a man who had spent his entire life among old Spanish nobility. His dark suit was immaculate, his posture perfectly straight, and his expression stern without being unfriendly.

Beside him emerged his wife, Doña Isabella de Valcárcel.

Elegant and graceful, she wore a deep burgundy dress beneath a tailored coat, her dark hair swept neatly away from her face. Unlike her husband, her expression carried a warmth that softened the formality of their arrival, though her observant eyes missed very little.

The two stood together as the remaining vehicles came to a stop behind them.

Then another car pulled forward.

This one stopped a short distance from the entrance.

The rear door opened.

Alejandro stepped out.

He adjusted the cuff of his dark suit before looking toward the towering entrance of the Greymore Grand Exchange.

His parents had arrived first.

He had deliberately traveled separately.

Don Fernando glanced toward his son.

"You're late."

Alejandro smiled faintly.

"Only by a few minutes, Father."

Isabella looked at him with quiet amusement.

"You could have arrived with us."

"I thought it would be better if I didn't."

Her eyebrow lifted.

"And why is that?"

Alejandro looked toward the GGE.

"Because this isn't a family visit."

His mother followed his gaze.

"No," she said softly. "It isn't."

The grand doors of the Exchange opened.

A member of the Greymore staff stepped outside and bowed.

"Welcome to the Greymore Grand Exchange. Lady Venisa is expecting you."

Don Fernando gave a dignified nod.

"Then let us not keep the Baroness waiting."

Alejandro's gaze remained on the entrance.

Somewhere inside was the woman he had been searching for.

And today, he would finally meet her not as a passing acquaintance at a ball, but as the woman whose family stood equal to his own.

Venisa waited at the entrance of the Greymore Grand Exchange as the De Valcárcel family approached, a polite smile settling across her face as she stepped forward to greet them.

"Don Fernando, Doña Isabella," she said warmly, offering a graceful nod. "Welcome to the Greymore Grand Exchange. It is a pleasure to receive you."

Don Fernando inclined his head with the dignity expected of a man from an old noble house.

"Lady Venisa, the pleasure is ours. Thank you for receiving us."

Isabella smiled more warmly.

"We have heard much about you, Lady Greymore. It is wonderful to finally meet you properly."

Venisa returned her smile.

"I hope the journey here was comfortable."

"It was," Isabella replied. "And your establishment is quite impressive."

Venisa was about to respond when Alejandro stepped forward.

His expression softened the moment his eyes met hers.

"Lady Venisa."

He gently took her gloved hand, his touch careful and formal, before lowering his head and placing a courteous kiss upon the back of it.

Venisa maintained her composed smile.

Fortunately, she was wearing gloves that day.

Alejandro released her hand and straightened.

"It is a pleasure to see you again."

"The pleasure is mine, Count Alejandro."

Behind him, Isabella watched the exchange with a faint, knowing smile, while Don Fernando remained quietly observant.

Venisa noticed neither expression.

Or perhaps she simply chose not to acknowledge them.

"Please," she said, stepping aside. "I have arranged a private room for us. We can discuss everything there."

Alejandro offered his arm to his mother before they followed Venisa inside, while his father walked beside him.

As Venisa led them through the grand entrance of the GGE, she remained perfectly composed.

After all, this was a formal meeting between two noble houses.

Nothing more.

At least, that was what she intended it to be.

Venisa led them away from the main hall of the Greymore Grand Exchange and toward one of the private meeting rooms reserved for matters concerning the family's most important affairs. The room was situated at the quieter end of the upper floor, away from the constant movement of merchants and officials below. Tall windows stretched along one wall, allowing the afternoon light to spill across the room and illuminate the long mahogany table at its center.

The walls were decorated with several old Greymore paintings, each framed in dark wood, while two large bookshelves stood against the far wall, filled with records, trade agreements, and volumes concerning noble houses that had dealt with the Greymores for generations. A small sitting area occupied one corner, furnished with deep velvet chairs and a low table where a silver tea set had already been prepared by the attendants.

It was formal enough for a meeting between two noble families, yet private enough that whatever was discussed inside would remain between those present.

Venisa gestured toward the seats.

"Please, make yourselves comfortable."

Don Fernando took the seat across from her, while Doña Isabella settled beside him. Alejandro remained standing for a moment, his eyes quietly wandering around the room before he finally took the chair beside his parents.

Venisa sat opposite them, placing her gloved hands neatly on the table.

For a brief moment, no one spoke.

The silence was not uncomfortable, but it carried a certain weight. Venisa had already suspected that this meeting concerned more than simple courtesy between noble houses, especially after receiving the letter from the De Valcárcel family.

Eventually, Don Fernando was the first to break the silence.

"Lady Venisa," he began, his voice calm and measured, "before we discuss the reason we asked to meet with you, there is something I believe you should know."

Venisa's expression remained composed.

"Of course."

Don Fernando exchanged a brief glance with his wife before returning his attention to Venisa.

"Your late grandmother, the former Baroness Greymore, had spoken with my son some time ago."

Venisa's fingers remained still against the table, though her attention sharpened immediately.

"My grandmother?"

"Yes."

Don Fernando leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful.

"Donna Victoria approached Alejandro herself. Their conversation was not particularly long, but it was significant enough that my son remembered it."

Venisa slowly turned her gaze toward Alejandro.

Across the table, Don Fernando remained perfectly composed, while Doña Isabella watched her with a quiet, almost knowing expression.

Venisa finally leaned back in her chair.

"So my grandmother had already spoken to you."

"Yes," Don Fernando answered. "And that conversation is part of the reason we are here today."

Venisa remained quiet for a moment, absorbing what they had just told her. Her gaze moved from Don Fernando to Doña Isabella, then briefly toward Alejandro, who remained composed beneath her scrutiny.

Finally, she folded her hands neatly on the table.

"Then may I ask," Venisa said, her voice calm but direct, "what exactly is the plan?"

Doña Isabella exchanged a brief glance with her husband before answering. Unlike Don Fernando's formal tone, hers carried a softer warmth, though there was unmistakable seriousness behind her words.

"We would like to establish a formal connection between the De Valcárcel estate in Spain and the Greymore estate here."

Venisa's expression changed only slightly.

"A connection?"

"Yes," Doña Isabella continued. "Our family has maintained its estates and holdings in Spain for generations, while your family has built its influence here for just as long. We believe there is an opportunity to bring those interests together."

Venisa listened carefully.

"We are proposing that the De Valcárcel estates become formally linked with the Greymore family's holdings," Doña Isabella explained. "Not simply through trade, but through shared ownership arrangements, investment, and long-term cooperation between our houses. Certain properties, agricultural lands, and commercial interests under our name could be placed under an arrangement connected to the Greymore estate."

Don Fernando nodded in agreement.

"It would create a lasting alliance between our families," he added. "Our estates in Spain would gain a direct connection to Greymore interests, while your family would gain access to our established holdings and connections within Spain."

Venisa remained silent, carefully considering every word.

"So this is more than a business agreement."

Doña Isabella smiled faintly.

"Yes."

Her eyes shifted briefly toward Alejandro.

"It is also a relationship between two noble houses."

Venisa's gaze followed hers.

Alejandro said nothing, but the meaning behind the conversation was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Venisa leaned back slightly in her chair, her expression returning to its usual composure.

"And where," she asked evenly, "does Alejandro fit into this arrangement?"

For the first time, Alejandro's expression softened.

Doña Isabella smiled.

"That," she said gently, "is precisely what we hoped you would ask."