I had been preoccupied with Atlas’s injuries these days and neglected work. Ryan noticed my skepticism and smiled, saying, “I’m confident we can succeed.”“How are you confident about this? Are you saying..." I hesitated in making assumptions."Unless something unexpected happens, then yes." Ryan grinned.I stared at him, dumbfounded. Considering his calm demeanor, he didn’t appear to be joking. I cautiously asked, “Are you saying we might secure phase two?”Ryan nodded with a smile. "Why not? Who says we can't secure a major project?""Are you serious?" I felt elated. "Were you working on this all along? I wondered why you were rarely around."“You wouldn’t have trusted me with this job if I sat around all day hoping for projects to come to me. We can't let Matthew win,” Ryan said smugly.I laughed, "Haha! Tell me the details. How’d you manage to get in touch with them? If we secure this, we'll have a smooth road ahead."Ryan explained the process to me in detail. Evidently, w
It was survival of the fittest in the business world, and I was determined to make Liora relent. If I didn’t, it would be over for me.Conveniently, Matthew's groundbreaking ceremony had just concluded. I thought it was the right time to put my plan into action.Ryan assured me, "You can get a good night's sleep this time. I’ll consider us established in Foswood once we have the capital to be independent.”I wholeheartedly agreed with his sentiment.However, ATL Empire added to my pressure when the retested inspection reports returned. Surprisingly, they showed elevated levels of harmful substances, rendering the project non-compliant.Immediately after, ATL Empire ordered all remaining construction to halt. If we couldn’t resolve it, the project would never continue. Since we sold all the units, I would be in serious trouble if the homeowners complained.ATL Empire didn’t give me a chance to address the issue. The work stoppage was just the first step. Then, they sent an outrage
Atticus quickly answered the call. He said hoarsely, "Hmm, Ms. Chloe? What's the matter?"I glanced at Lauren, and she nodded reassuringly, urging me to speak."Um... are you at the company? I'd like to discuss something with you," I said, still lacking confidence."Sure, go to Vanderberg Palace. I'll be there in a while," he responded promptly.I felt dazed because I did not know what Vanderberg Palace was. Lauren saw my confusion and patted my hand, signaling me to end the call."All right, see you later," I replied awkwardly before hanging up. Then I turned to Lauren and said, “I don’t know where Vanderberg Palace is.”Lauren laughed at me mockingly. I felt embarrassed and asked, “Hey! Why are you laughing?!”“Because I know where it is. Hahaha,” Lauren continued to tease me, “I should’ve driven you around more when we had nothing to do. You should have some fun driving around. Geez, you embarrass me sometimes.”Soon after, we arrived in front of a tranquil courtyard. Lauren
Atticus showed no surprise and nodded. “Go ahead.”I explained my purpose and then looked at him, asking, "Can you give me some advice?"Atticus didn't respond directly. Instead, he contemplated momentarily before saying, "I can't help you with this."My mind went blank, and my heart dropped. I realized I might’ve been too hopeful since I wasn’t close to Atticus. It was unrealistic for him to help me for no reason. As I was about to provide a way out for myself, Atticus continued, “However, I can offer a suggestion.”I looked at him in surprise and waited for him to continue."Do you know Pinnacle Group?" he asked.I nodded. Pinnacle Group was the country's leading company and the most renowned real estate brand. They had properties worldwide and were well-known for their quality."Go to them. Their building materials undergo rigorous selection and meet national standards. I noticed the items you used identified as non-compliant are the same ones they use. Wouldn't that be quite
Lauren insisted on driving me back home as I left the Vanderberg Palace. I grabbed a couple of fresh outfits and asked her to take me to the airport.During the ride, I made calls to both Ryan and Grayson. Grayson offered, "I can accompany you, you know. Are you sure you want to go alone?""Your mission is more crucial. Finding evidence is the key to victory. I'll be fine on my own. Trust me," I earnestly advised Grayson.The remorse in Ryan’s voice was clear.I was not worried about the company with Ryan in charge, but he was not good at complicated relationships. His time abroad had dulled his understanding of complex interpersonal dynamics.Teasingly, I said to Lauren, "Your ideas are truly classic. Why do I feel like you're such a smooth operator?"She glanced at me and retorted, "Who's the smooth operator here? You're just too close to the situation. Your brain is leagues ahead of the rest of us. "In my opinion, you've let the company stagnate in the years Matthew ran it
Not only did the shop owner open up about it, even the woman getting her hair done chimed in. It seemed like they were both very familiar with this family.It turned out that Dominic's eccentric behavior had a backstory. He was born into an intellectual family and taught chemistry at a university in the city. He was devoted to his career and got married quite late. He had a child in his middle age, the cherry on top of his already blissful life. Everything seemed perfect, but little did he know that his idyllic dream lasted only five years. At the time, he was at the pinnacle of his career. He was the youngest Ph.D. supervisor, and he even bought a house.This was supposed to be an enviable celebration, but tragedy struck when his beloved son was diagnosed with leukemia the second year after moving into the new house. This news shattered Dominic's dreams. He traveled far and wide to seek treatment for his child, depleting his wealth and ending up with nothing. He couldn't f
Dominic was anxious. "Please leave! Can't you see someone is sick here?""May I check on your wife?" I carefully asked for his permission. "I believe her condition is quite serious."He looked at me with panic, beads of sweat on his forehead."I have some experience," I added quickly. "I might be able to help."After all, I've dealt with situations like this while caring for Ava these past few years.Dominic glanced at me briefly, perhaps sensing my sincerity. He stepped aside and sighed. "She seems to have a fever."I quickly felt the woman's forehead and neck. She was burning hot, beyond a regular fever. "How long has this been going on?""She's been running a fever since last night. She was still lucid this morning, but I...""Dominic, I'm afraid we need to get her to the hospital. This won't do. Do you have a thermometer?" I asked."I-I don't know where it is!" He was usually absorbed in his studies, leaving household matters to his wife.I promptly told Carol, "Quick, ca
Finally, with the documents in my hands, the weight in my heart lifted. I was deeply grateful for Dominic's assistance.From his bag, he handed me additional materials. "These are promotional materials from the CEO of Pinnacle Group, along with information on materials similar to yours. You'll find copies of approval documents, test reports, certificates of compliance, and more."He showed me each item, explaining, "There are also audiovisual materials stamped with Pinnacle Group's seal. I hope this can be of help to you."Seeing these materials, I was truly moved and couldn't find the words to express my gratitude. These documents filled me with confidence.Dominic said, "Ms. Chloe, I hope you'll uphold your principles in every project contract—honesty, integrity, and a commitment to quality.""Dominic, you can trust me. What you said is exactly my motto." I assured him solemnly.He checked his watch and told me, "Time is tight, and you've already helped me a lot. Go on!"I qui