Chapter 47 May the best win
Ingrid seethed at being denied entry due to inadequate credentials. As former VP, she’d accessed Sylvia freely. Everyone kowtowed now that the scheming temptress had seduced Bruce into appointing her.
Ingrid had expected that VP role after years of dedication. Yet Sylvia swooped in to steal the prize. She could never swallow such humiliation.
Noting Juliette’s exit, Ingrid hurried after her and insisted on an urgent business meeting. She’d waited vainly long enough outside that office.
Juliette made no pretense of pleasantries with this woman she disliked. “Sorry, but she’s too busy now for pointless chats. State your issue or just get back to work.”
“This concerns the company so watch your tone! I’ll report your insolence!” Ingrid threatened.
Juliette scoffed, unintimidated. “Company business my foot. But please, tell the big boss. Then we’ll see who can’t stay after all.”
Rather than cower before Ingrid’s backers, Juliette dared her to complain. Juliette would readily tattle first to Bruce about any troublemakers. Why pretend her best friend wouldn’t soon assume control? She had no qualms settling scores immediately.
Recognizing Juliette indeed had such influence, Ingrid bottled her temper to avoid self- destruction. But she refused resigned acceptance.
“Quite bold. Let’s see how long that lasts once I remove Sylvia. Then you’ll both stop strutting around!”
Juliette paused, acknowledging Ingrid’s prediction reasonable. Sylvia would hardly remain VP long before further promotion since Bruce clearly favored her.
“Correct, Sylvia won’t keep this position long. But she’d never be ousted by you. You’re far from replacing her.” Juliette just smiled slyly and returned to work, ignoring Ingrid’s presence like the other unsympathetic employees. Most welcomed someone finally standing up to the insolent shareholder–executive.
Seething at Juliette’s snub, Ingrid stalked off impotently. By afternoon, damning exposés about Jonathon’s family and company surfaced online, ensuring thorough humiliation.
With his enterprise precariously positioned, Jonathon desperately called Cyril again for help. But Cyril just reiterated apologizing as the sole solution, else worse would follow.
Chapter 47 May the best win
2/2
“How did Sylvia become so ruthlessly capable after the divorce? She never demonstrated such skills before!” Jonathon couldn’t grasp this overnight transformation.
His puzzled statement also reminded Cyril of overlooking Sylvia’s situation. Indeed, her amplified prowess hinted at long–concealed talents. Had he completely misjudged her real competence all this time?
“My only options now are apology or waiting this out?” Jonathon asked anxiously.
“You can try the latter,” Cyril conceded unconvincingly before lapsing into troubled silence. He couldn’t predict when Sylvia might relent. What if she intended their utter collapse first?
While Jonathon agonized over groveling for forgiveness, Cyril desperately strategized retaining their lucrative partnership. The Ivanovs clearly outmatched him if competing freely. Last month’s delays left this opening for them to exploit.
He must swiftly resolve this and satisfy stakeholders counting on the deal. Except the initial selection had defaulted to the Ivanovs, who later permitted Cyril’s involvement. Why suddenly revert?
A startling realization crossed Cyril’s mind about Sylvia’s intimate closeness with Bruce. Had Bruce only abandoned the plan for his sister’s sake? Impossible for the pragmatic tycoon…unless romantic motives overruled reason.
Cyril was at an utter loss. Progressing blindly could prove catastrophic.