ing room with stacks of sketches, pitch notes, and InnoBliss marketing plans sprawled across

o discuss her tech firm's prospects and

ng with possible investors, bu

tention. Elena Matthews was outside, h

u'd need fortification.""You appear to have

make atonement, but I still wonder if it's enough."And Nathan..."I don't k

ft. "Your concept is much stronger today, especially since you modified the us

Nathan's leadership pulls InnoBliss forward, perhaps I should not disregard him. At

nger your identity. You earlier stated that you would never compromise your ideal

smile. Thank you. "I

dwell merger was progressing smoothly, but the negotiations had a subtle tension. Isabella Caldwell had expressed conc

. His posture tensed as he noticed Nathan Clarke loitering nea

ys, "Nathan, I didn't realize

iscuss potential collaborations.

e were flaws in Sterling Enterprises' facade. "If there is corporate synergy,

sm. "Certainly not, sir. "I only s

ed a secret threat, maybe including Sophia. Determined, Edward went to Juli

with Sophia, calling the restaurant to reserve a uniq

arke lurking around? He claims to be proposing a co

, Father, you made her feel invisible by constantly bombarding her with c

?" Remember that discipline is the foundation of all we have established, i

ef in corporate power. He gave a cautious response: "I am meeting Sophia tonight. Showing her how significant her ambitio

ndal or Clarke's involvement might destroy Caldwell's trust in us... He left the sentence unfinished

noticed the subdued mood of the lighted tables where hushed patrons ate pricey dinners. The m

tight suit but seemed more human and easygoing than usual. Sophia's favourite hya

xplaining, "I asked Aaron for these." He shared a few

ld surprise. "You

ieves you're on the verge of something incredibly innovative. I-"

ad time for my words, let alone my dre

trust in me-without my faith in you. I'm sorry I left you standing alone not only on t

with Sterling Enterprises-albeit cautiously, so as not to get eaten up by the larger company. Julian emphas

She wished she could believe him, but words can't restore confiden

." He took out a small, separate folder containing his adjusted personal agenda, which included "Dinner with S

d took a calm step forward, apologized, and parted

Something about a competitor's "anonymous tip" claiming an inside Sterling conflict made Julian's cheeks

to leave. Can we continue thi

ss concerns threatened their precarious position. She nodded. "

crisp night air when Sophia's phone r

a dependable source for InnoBliss, I have a direct lin

mising her ideals for shortcuts. Nathan's timing, on the other hand, seemed almost flaw

him. "Nathan never misses an opportunity," he a

"Don't let your resentment toward Nathan overshadow what could

ou are correct. It's your

ture posed a corporate threat to Sterling Enterprises. Nathan's timely intervention cou

y at each fork in the road. If she was not careful, relationships established in desperation could en

tion: "My vow remains unaltered. But so does m