Chapter 108: Goodbye Spain

Selen felt like Clancy was flexing his power from across an ocean, proving that even when she chose Newton, she was still operating within his world.

"He is insufferable," she muttered under her breath, her hands trembling with a mix of anger and exhaustion. But as she looked at the chaotic terminal lines in the distance, she knew she had no choice. She could not put the kids through a massive delay.

"Fine," Selen snapped, giving Patrick a sharp, warning look. "But you tell him this does not change anything." She turned, taking her children by the hands, and walked toward the boarding stairs with JK still following behind them.

JK hugged them all before saying one last goodbye and watching the door of the jet close. He stood there until the jet pulled out of the runway and into the air, feeling like he was saying goodbye to the only family he had in Spain.

***Clancy’s office in Spain**

Clancy did not need to own shares in Vanguard, nor did he need any dark leverage or financial threats to get what he wanted. In his world, access was a currency built entirely on mutual gain, elite networking, and the seamless exchange of high-level corporate favors.

Vanguard’s board of directors was composed of men and women who traveled in the exact same billionaire circles as Clancy, people who sat on the same charitable foundations, shared invitations to exclusive global summits, and routinely co-invested in multi-billion dollar infrastructure funds.

A favor granted to Clancy was simply an investment in a future return, a golden token to be cashed in when Vanguard needed a massive favor from his financial empire later down the line.

Early that morning, Clancy had made a single, direct phone call to Vanguard’s chief executive officer, Robert Vance. The two men had known each other for a decade, having successfully partnered on several massive commercial real estate acquisitions across Europe.

Robert answered the private line immediately, his tone warm and familiar.

"Clancy, my friend," Robert had said, leaning back in his office chair. "To what do I owe the call? I assume you are back in London." he said.

"Not yer," Clancy replied, his voice calm and entirely casual as he looked out over the river. "I called because I have a unique talent acquisition opportunity that lines up perfectly with Vanguard’s upcoming European expansion," he said.

Robert had immediately pulled up a blank notepad on his screen. "I am always listening when you scout real talent, Clancy. Our modern art division has been looking to inject some fresh perspective into the executive tier. Who do you have in mind?" he said.

"Her name is Selen Williams," Clancy said smoothly. "She just temporarily relocated to Kent for the exhibition of the national gallery in London. Her portfolio over the last three years is exceptional highly focused, sharp, and exactly the kind of independent vision Vanguard needs if you want to capture the younger demographic of high-net-worth collectors this quarter." he said

Robert nodded along, typing the name into his database. "Their representatives of the exhibition are people that have been tough for us to break into. If her background is solid, she sounds like a perfect fit. Has she submitted an inquiry through our standard recruitment channels?" he asked.

"She has not, and she does not know she is being considered," Clancy explained evenly. "She is fiercely independent, Robert. If she thinks this is a standard corporate handout or that I had any hand in setting it up, she will reject it out of hand. I need this to be a pure, aggressive headhunting play from Vanguard’s side." he said.

Robert smiled on the other end of the line, completely understanding the nature of the corporate game. High-level talent often required a delicate touch. "Consider it done. I will have our executive research team pull her public portfolio immediately and document it as an internal discovery.

We can establish a new European Directorial Chair for regional acquisitions. It actually fits beautifully into our fourth quarter strategic presentation to the board." he said.

"Don’t make the position sound like a guarantee. She needs to feel like she is entering a competitive, elite space that matches her capability." He said.

"I will handle it personally," Robert assured him. "If she asks how we tracked her down so quickly after her move, we will simply tell her that our senior talent scouts routinely flag high-profile international customs registrations when major art cargo and personal portfolios clear the UK border. It’s a standard, logical industry explanation." Robert said.

"Perfect. I appreciate the agility on this, Robert," Clancy said. "Think nothing of it, Clancy. You have cleared plenty of paths for our people in the past," Robert replied warmly.

"Let’s get her into the building for an audience, and we will take it from there," he added.

By the afternoon, the entire plan had moved forward seamlessly through a series of polite nods and executive handshakes. The Vanguard board gladly approved the creation of the new directorial role, viewing it as a brilliant strategic move to secure a rising star in the industry before their competitors could even realize she had landed in England.

The official letter was sent out immediately. Clancy had orchestrated the entire opportunity using nothing but pure professional respect and a well-placed phone call, ensuring that the next major step in Selen’s career would feel entirely like her own victory, even if the door had been opened by him.

He was not doing any of it because he was trying to force her to stay in London. It was because he knew just how talented she was and that was what anyone in that power who knew her would do.

He had seen her art, he experienced it. She was immensely talented. And while some people had the spotlight naturally shining in them. Some people needed the spotlight to be pushed in their direction first.

Whether he got involved or not, immediately news got out in the art world of London about who she was and her portfolio, it was only a matter of time before she got multiple messages from everyone who wanted a piece of her. He was just getting it done sooner.