bChapter /bb21 /b

bChapter /bb21 /b

b“/bbNo/bb, /bbno/bb, /bbMs. /bLambert, you’re way off,b” /bDaniel Walker blurted, jumping in as the tension spiked..

He wiped his forehead, even though it was dry, and kept going. “This is our chairman, Mr. Yosef Campbell. He was just dropping bby /bfor a routine check

bin /b

“It was nned forever ago,” he added, his voice tight. “We didn’t mean to keep you waiting. We’re just swamped.”

Skr’s face stayed stone–cold. “So, you

?/bb” /b

They could’ve sent someone else to negotiate, but instead, they left her team sitting around.

Jacking up herb prices was bad enough, but thisck of basic respect? Not okay.

“If this is how you run things, yourpany’s got six months, tops,” she said.

Daniel’s face darkened. “Ms. Lambert, watch it.”

Skr smirked, not backing down. “You pull this move, and I’m not allowed to call bit /bbout/bb?/bb” /b

Daniel started to argue, but one look from Yosef shut him up.

Five years apart had changed Skr so much, Yosef barely recognized her. He was scrambling to figure bher /bbout/b.

‘And why is Daniel calling her Ms. Lambert? Her maiden name is Stone,‘ Yosef wondered.

But he also knew now wasn’t the time to dig into that.

She was here for businessb, /bso he’d treat it like business.

“We messed up,” Yosef admitted, his voice calm. “To make it right, we’ll grant one fair request, as long bas /bit doesn’t screw either side.”

“Yourpany’s a messi,/i” Skr fired back. “I’m not interested in doing businessb./bb” /b

She wasn’t buying that they were the only supplier in the country for that ingredient.

With a quick nce, she led her team outb, /bnot giving them a second thought.

Yosef clenched his teeth, taking a deep breath to keep cool.

Skr was all sharp edges now, cutting anyone who got close. Nothing like the soft, easygoing woman he once knew.

What kind of nightmare has she been through to turn into this stranger?‘ he wondered.

Yosef pulled out his phone and called his assistant, Hudson. “Look into Skr’s past. Everything.”

“And get mywyer on the line,” he added. “I need him to draft some contracts.”

Back at Phidon, Skr told her team to find new suppliers.

Their hard work paid off, and they set up meetings with several solidpanies.

Everything looked good, just waiting for the go–ahead.

Then, one by one, thepanies bailed, saying they couldn’t negotiate.

“Why the sudden change?” Skr askedb, /bher voice tense.

b1/2 /b

b08:24 /bbFri/bb, /bb20 /bbJun /bbI /b

Her assistant hesitated. “Theirpanies got bought out. The parentpany’s sending someone to handle all deals, and we’re out of the loopb./bb” /b

Everypany gave the same excuse. This wasn’t random; someone wasing for her.

It didn’t take a genius to point the finger at Yosef, that petty jerk.

No one else had the money and the grudge to buy up multiplepanies just to mess with Skr.

Skr’s bad mood followed her like a dark cloud all the way home.

Yana took one look at her daughter and knew something was wrong. She treaded carefully. “Sweetie, how was work today? Everything okay?”

Skr forced a nod. “It’s fine.”

“Anything… interesting happen at the office?” Yana asked gently.

The question brought back the day’s frustrations–the stalled ingredient deal, her ns stuck in neutral.

Skr’s chest tightened, but she didn’t want to stress her parents with her problems.

“Company’s good, I’m good,” she said, faking a smile. “No worries.”

Yana could tell Skr was holding back, but pushing would only upset her. If her daughter wasn’t ready to open up, there was a reason.

She dropped it, switching to lighter topics.

At dinner, Yana piled food onto Skr’s te. “Try this, Skr, it’s so good.”

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