Chapter 46: A Quiet Countermove

Louis respected Freya's request not to retaliate through her writing or design work. That didn't mean he intended to ignore Marcus Knox. The following morning, Northstar Capital quietly increased its interest in a logistics company Knox Group had been negotiating to acquire for months.

The company wasn't essential to Louis's plans. That was precisely why it was useful. Northstar didn't need to win the acquisition. It only needed to make Knox pay more.

Derek studied the proposal. "You're spending several million dollars to annoy Marcus." "We're not spending anything if he outbids us." "So you're making him spend several million dollars to annoy him."

Louis corrected him. "To reduce capital available for his other acquisitions." Derek smiled. "Of course. Entirely strategic. Nothing to do with his decision to target Freya."

Louis ignored him.

The bidding developed exactly as expected. Knox Group had already invested too much time in the deal to withdraw easily. When Northstar entered, Marcus increased his offer. Northstar responded once, then again, each time remaining just credible enough to keep pressure on the price.

By Friday, Knox Group secured the company—but at a cost nearly eighteen percent higher than its initial target.

Marcus was furious. "Who authorized Northstar to enter this sector?" he demanded during an internal meeting. His team had no answer. Northstar's strategy seemed opportunistic rather than personal.

Clement, who understood less of the acquisition details, asked, "Does this have anything to do with Louis?" Marcus looked at him sharply. "Why would it?" "Because everything lately seems to."

Marcus dismissed the thought. If Louis secretly controlled capital large enough to influence acquisitions, there would have been signs. His investigators had found nothing except vague meetings and Derek's continued loyalty.

At home, Freya knew none of this. She was struggling with a completely different crisis: her new design client wanted a luxury look on a painfully ordinary budget.

She had samples spread across the dining table when Louis arrived. "Don't touch anything," she warned. "Everything is arranged by price."

He carefully placed his keys on the counter instead. "Problem?" "Client wants marble results with laminate money."

Louis examined the samples. "Then tell them it isn't possible." "That's not design. Design is finding where to spend and where to fake it convincingly."

He sat beside her while she compared materials. Eventually, he pointed to one sample. "This supplier is overpriced." Freya looked at him. "How would you know?" "One of my former companies used their commercial division."

He suggested another manufacturer with similar quality. Freya searched it and discovered prices nearly twenty percent lower. "Useful husband," she said approvingly.

Louis looked at her. "Is that my current ranking?" "You've moved up from financially disastrous husband." "Progress."

Freya returned to her samples, unaware that the man helping her save a few thousand dollars on renovation materials had spent the week quietly forcing Knox Group to overpay millions.

Louis watched her work and felt no need to mention it. Freya had asked him not to turn her career into a battlefield, and he wouldn't. His battles could remain elsewhere. For now, the small apartment was one place he intended to keep separate from them.

Later that night, Louis received confirmation that Knox had completed the overpriced acquisition. He deleted the message after reading it once. Across the table, Freya was calculating material quantities with a pencil tucked behind her ear. She looked up and asked why he seemed pleased. "Good meeting," he said. Freya narrowed her eyes but returned to work. Louis decided that explanation was technically true enough.

The situation was far from resolved, but neither Freya nor Louis had reached this point by rushing blindly into the next move. For now, they would keep working, watching, and gathering what they needed. The larger game could wait another day.