Author's note -{Each state in Freyne Country has multiple cities, but the main city of every state shares the name of the state. For example, Lyra State has eight cities in total, and the main city is called Lyra City, and the other cities are named Roma City, Eqaal City, etc. Aelin State has ten cities, and the main city is called Aelin City, and the other cities are named Gion City, Donyy City, etc. If I am talking about the main city, I will let you know.}
Now, Lily arrived at the newly acquired site in Lyra City of Lyra state. Knights Crescent Empire would soon relocate its main headquarters here. The old Lyra City branch was in Roma City, Lyra State, it's a threehour drive from the new site.
Lily was urgently called here because the CEO of Cross Global Group was present and requested to meet KCE's CEO, Aria Hill, who wasn't even in the city. According to the details that were send to Lily, It was about a Garden lands that KCE had recently purchased. Unfortunately, since everyone else was busy and Lily was near the city, she chose to come here herself to deal directly with the CGG representatives who had shown up at their door.
Cross Global Group is a Tier-1 conglomerate. It is a nearly century-old company. They hold power across multiple countries. That's why it's not surprising they already found out that Knights Crescent Empire is shifting its headquarters here.
Whereas Knights Crescent Empire is a Tier-3 conglomerate because it is newly established and it is also the fastest growing empire in the world. KCE has not shown all its hidden powerful cards yet. If it does, even the century-old conglomerates will have to move aside to let KCE shine. But Lily is silently preparing KCE to gain more stability as it's still new before finally showing their true potential and successfully winning her deal with her grandfather. She's taking her time because it's not just about her deal anymore, it's also about the hard work and livelihoods of too many people that depend on the decisions she makes, and her ultimate goal is to protect every knight of hers who trusts her and KCE.
Back to the present,
Lily entered the conference room and called for the representatives of Cross Global Group, who had been waiting almost two and a half hours in the executive waiting room of KCE. Lily didn't take the head seat, but chose to sit at the right side of the head table. In a matter of minutes, one of KCE's internal staff escorted the Cross Global Group representatives to the conference room and politely gestured for them to sit at the left side of the head seat.
Lily looked at the CGG reps who entered. First was Kenneth Cross, he is in his mid-fifties, widely known as CEO of CGG for the last three decades. As expected from a veteran, his silence spoke louder than words. Every movement of him is controlled and quietly intimidating.
Behind him stood his PA, Mason Harley, he is in his mids too. He looks steady, measured, eyes missing nothing. And beside Mason, a young man in his early twenties resembling Mr.Cross's features. He has fine looks, and unlike other two, he's full of fashion, screaming too much attention, it's obvious that he is an actor.
Mr. Mason Harley took a step forward and stretched his hand toward Lily for an introduction. "Hello, I'm Mason Harley, PA to the Cross Global Group CEO. You are Miss...?"
Meanwhile, Mr. Cross shot her a quite intimidating look, which Lily absolutely ignored like nothing.
Unlike the three of them, Lily showed no silent intimidation, no measured control, no screaming confidence. She just behaved super calmly, like a normal person, she stood up and stretched her hand out to shake his before introducing herself. Her tone was casual yet formal. "Hello, Mr. Harley. I'm Lily... Lily Crescent."
PA Mason Harley shook her hand briefly before releasing it, then gestured toward his CEO to introduce him. "Ms. Crescent, this is my boss and the CEO of Cross Global Group, Kenneth Cross."
Lily glanced calmly at Kenneth Cross, who still carried that silent, intimidating look. She didn't bother with his gaze and extended her hand toward him, taking the initiative to greet him. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Cross."
Mr. Cross narrowed his eyes but loosened his stiffness a bit and commented with a rare smile, "So, it is true that everyone in Knights Crescent Empire either uses Knight or Crescent as their lastname to introduce themselves."
Lily smiled back slightly, as if agreeing with his comment but said nothing.
Kenneth Cross took her hand and shook it. "Likewise, Ms. Crescent." A slight smile still hung on his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Then, PA Mason gestured toward the young man. "This is our second young master, Justin Cross."
Lily gave him a brief look and shook his hand, saying simply, "Hello."
After their introductions, Lily gestured for them to sit. She also took her seat and fixed her gaze directly on Kenneth Cross. His intimidating look didn't faze her. She showed no hint of fear or nervousness and sat there with quiet ease, as if this was nothing out of the ordinary. She said nothing and waited for them to state the purpose of their sudden visit. PA Mason Harley understood the cue and initiated the talk, his voice came steady and firm "Ms. Crescent, we requested to meet the CEO, Aria Hill. Our CEO wants to discuss something important with her."
Lily leaned back in her seat and replied in a polite tone, "Unfortunately, our CEO works at our main branch. So, I came here in her stead as a courtesy from our Knights to Cross Group. I hope you gentlemen understand the inconvenience of keeping you waiting."
Kenneth Cross could understand the meaning behind her words, the place they were in would become the main branch, but not yet. It was they who had arrived unannounced at the wrong place to meet KCE's CEO.
However, his second son didn't. Justin Cross looked at Lily and cut in, his voice low but laced with dissatisfaction. "We've been waiting for the CEO of Knights Crescent Empire all this time. Yet you are now telling us your CEO isn't even here. Knights isn't even giving us face and sends a mediator late instead. Just because we came to your door doesn't raise your standards above ours. You should know –" and he abruptly shut his mouth when his father's glare landed on him.
Kenneth Cross held his son's gaze a beat longer, then eased his glare and turned to Lily, who didn't show any intention to react to Justin Cross's words and had a small smile playing on her lips that didn't reach her eyes. Kenneth's expression was stern as he said, "Ms. Crescent, my son's words were out of line. I apologize on his behalf." But his grave tone carried genuine earnestness.
Lily opened her mouth, but Justin Cross cut in quietly, his face flushed. "Ms. Crescent," he said, not looking at his father. "I'm sorry. That apology should've come from me. It was my rudeness, not my father's. I shouldn't have talk like that."
Lily blinked at him once, giving him a nod of understanding and acceptance. Then she shifted her gaze to Kenneth Cross and said, "Mr. Cross, you can discuss the matter about that Garden land directly with me. I'm here on behalf of CEO Aria Hill to handle this."
A perplexed expression flickered in Kenneth Cross's eyes. Then his tone turned serious as he stated, "Ms. Crescent, I've been informed that Garden land was purchased by Knights Crescent Empire recently. But we, Cross family wants to purchase it from you. So we are here to discuss that matter with your CEO."
Lily's expression shifted from casual to serious, her tone all business as she asked, "Mr. Cross, may I know why your family wants to buy that land from our Knights, if you're already well aware we purchased it only recently?"
Kenneth Cross met Lily's eyes and said, "It's a land that holds something personal to our Cross family, Ms. Crescent."
Lily smiled a little formally and responded slowly, "I have time to hear the details, Mr. Cross." Her implication was simple. She wanted the reason... a valid one. Her tone carried a demanding firmness as she pressed him, "Forgive my audacity to pry into your family privacy, but we bought that land from the Miles family in Aelin City. And as far as I know, your two families do not have good ties. It hasn't even been a week since we bought the Garden land, but you're here to negotiate to purchase it from us."
Justin's jaw tightened, but he chose to remain silent. PA Mason felt discouraged, thinking it was impossible to purchase the land from them.
However, Kenneth studied Lily for a long moment and finally said, "My grandfather, Richard Cross, had two children. Tristan Cross and Helena Cross."
AN -{While Kenneth took some time to explain things to Lily, I'm gonna tell you what happened real quick.}
Helena Cross chose to marry someone against her father's wishes. For disobeying him, Richard Cross cut ties with his daughter. Helena tried to reach out to her family from time to time, but no one acknowledged her existence anymore.
Unfortunately, Helena Cross died in an accident ten years into her marriage. Richard Cross was devastated by the news of his daughter's loss and went to see her one last time. But Helena Cross's husband, Silas Miles, did not allow anyone from the Cross family to attend his wife's funeral.
A few days after the funeral, Richard Cross's health started to deteriorate. He was admitted to the hospital, and during his final days, his last wish was to talk with his son-in-law, Silas Miles.
Tristan Cross somehow convinced Silas Miles to speak with his father on his deathbed. Silas came to the hospital full of blame and hate on Cross family. But only after arriving did he learn the truth that through a sage, Richard had been warned that Helena's life was in danger from her own family.
Richard Cross loved his only daughter more than his life, but after that warning, he became overprotective. That overprotectiveness put her in a situation where she nearly lost her life. After that incident, Richard grew paranoid. He didn't know how to keep his daughter safe from his own family threat.
So, When Helena revealed her love for Silas Miles, Richard investigated everything about him and was satisfied. He believed the only way to save her was to stay away from her. If she cut ties with the Cross family, she would be safe somewhere else. And if she could be somewhere she loved, he would let her go to wherever she could be safe, happy, and alive. So, choosing her love as an accusation against him, he disowned her.
After learning the truth, Silas was livid and told them Helena died because she was upset that her family wouldn't be present at her son's 5th birthday party, which they were planning to celebrate. So, she went for a drive to clear her mind. She didn't even let Silas come with her and went alone, adamantly. But she never came back alive.
Silas Miles became so furious that he said, "In the end, she died because of you," and left. Richard Cross was devastated after learning the reason behind his daughter's accident and blamed himself for his decisions. He died days later, consumed by guilt, regret, and self-blame.
After his father's funeral, Tristan Cross went to the Miles family and gave Silas Miles all the documents for Helena Cross's assets and shares. According to Richard Cross's will, his estate was divided equally between his son, Tristan Cross, and his daughter, Helena Cross.
Tristan also delivered his father's last message to Silas Miles "My father was regretful about his actions, and he wanted you to know he was deeply sorry for what happened to Helena. And... on behalf of the Cross family, I'm sorry too. We all let her down assuming we are protecting her."