Chapter 60 It’s You
Sylvia led a surprise visit to Ward’s company with her team in tow. Ward was caught off- guard, in the midst of a meeting about securing the partnership, when he was told Sylvia and her entourage had come to assess the place. The stakes were clear: pass the inspection and the partnership would proceed; fail, and it was all over.
Ward was anxious, having no idea what Sylvia planned to inspect. He trailed behind her, watching nervously as she examined everything scrupulously, even plucking leaves from the potted plants they passed. Once they settled in the office, Sylvia didn’t press about the partnership. Instead, she casually inquired about how things had been and what they had been discussing earlier.
Ward explained everything candidly. There was a time when, as a street punk, he had run into Sylvia’s brothers and endured a heavy reprimand from them. Since then, he’d known Sylvia wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.
“Can you give it to me straight? If there’s something about what we do that you’re not impressed with, you can tell me. I can handle it,” Ward finally said, bordering on desperation.
Sylvia paused, then laughed softly. “Calm down. The partnership will continue. I’m here to see for myself what’s going on. Frankly, compared to other companies the Ivans work with, you’re small. But I’m willing to give you a chance. The plan you submitted impressed me, and that’s why I’m here. Now, you need to convince not just me, but the critics I’ve brought along. And let me warn you–they’re excellent at finding faults. If you can handle them, consider our partnership secure.
Ward knew his company wasn’t the usual caliber Sylvia partnered with, but her willingness to give them this chance spurred him on. He was ready to give it his all.
After the meeting, as Ward busied himself addressing the feedback, Sylvia stepped out to make a call to Bruce. They’d received news this morning that Cyril wanted to partner with Ward, and Sylvia was determined not to let Cyril secure the deal without a fight. Besides, why should Cyril get first dibs on working with Ward?
Perhaps there was a hint of retaliation in her actions; after all, the past three years hadn’t been easy. It wouldn’t sit right with her to just let bygones be bygones without making things at least a bit difficult for Cyril.
Sylvia’s next stop was to check out the rest of the company. Despite its modest size, the overall vibe was promising.
Juliet arrived late, carrying a stack of documents which she handed to Sylvia. “This is from your brother. There’s an inspection at the mall this afternoon, and he wants you to oversee it,” Juliet explained. The files detailed a promotional event featuring Sylvia’s second brother, aiming to make a splash with this year’s concert by starting with today’s showcase.
Realizing that this meant her brother was expecting a large turnout, Sylvia couldn’t help but dread the chaos that might ensue. No wonder Bruce wanted her to be there.
As Sylvia and Juliet approached the mall, they didn’t announce themselves, choosing to blend in as ordinary shoppers. On a usual day, the mall wouldn’t be this crowded – but today, Brock’s presence transformed it into a bustling hub.
Having attended several of Brock’s concerts before, they expected the energy, but the sheer scale of the excitement still startled them as they arrived.
“Goodness, imagine if this was at a bigger venue like a stadium; the fans would swarm your brother!” Juliet whispered, loudly enough for Sylvia to hear despite the din.
Sylvia smiled ruefully; she’d always known her brother was a favorite, but this outpouring of affection still amazed her.
“No wonder Bruce wanted me to come. He probably didn’t want to deal with this crowd. Let’s head to the central hall. I heard that’s where the event is,” she suggested.
As they edged through the throngs, a bright–eyed girl with golden hair rushed up and grabbed Sylvia’s hand. “It’s you, I know you!”
Sylvia was taken aback–she’d never seen this girl before.
“Last time at the lounge, I saw you sing. You performed Brock’s songs, remember? I wanted your contact then, but you were swamped. Can I get it now? It’s fate, meeting you here again.
Delighted, Linda was overjoyed to run into Sylvia after missing an opportunity to connect
before.
Sylvia chuckled, took out her phone, and willingly exchanged numbers.
“Are you here for the signing event? You might be late; they could be gone. But there’s a good spot over there for pictures—you’ll get a clear shot of his face.”