Erin lowered her head, looking guilty. Darius couldn't see this, but he could sense from her tone that she obviously felt bad. He frowned, wondering what she could've done wrong. He couldn't imagine it, but Erin's tone and actions told him something had gone astray.

Darius sighed, shook his head, and said comfortingly, "Don't be too harsh on yourself. You don't have to feel guilty or that you've done anything wrong because, unlike me, you're not privy to a lot of information. It's normal that you couldn't deduce something was wrong with the sudden influx of business at West Atlantics Int'l."

His gentle tone eased Erin's anxiety. "Understood, sir. Thank you." She shut her eyes, breathed deeply, and quickly composed herself. Then, she opened her eyes and said, "Now that I've gotten a grip on myself, I'll look into these prospective business partners. I won't allow them to do any harm to West Atlantics Int'l!"

Darius smiled and nodded. "That would be for the best."

On the other end of t