Chapter 4

Rachel walked back to her office, holding her project proposal, her face pale.

Cecilia Young noticed right away and came over, using simple hand signs as she asked, "Rachel, are you okay? Did that new hire really take the project?"

Rachel grabbed Cecilia's wrist. "Come with me."

The two of them went to the breakroom.

Rachel's face was serious as she said, "I need your help with something important."

"Of course, just tell me what you need."

"I heard that LS Enterprise wanted to take the Oasis Project too. Since it hasn't started yet, if we come up with a better plan, we can take control of the project. That way, it won't be up to this company to decide how it moves forward."

Cecilia's face went pale. She quickly started to gesture in panic as she exclaimed, "Are you crazy? If you get involved and someone finds out, it's like leaking company secrets. Your career would be over!"

She paused, looking at Rachel like she was crazy, then added, "Also, I've heard rumors about the owner of LS Enterprise. His background is complicated, and there isn't much information available online about him. If you go near him, it's like walking straight into a trap. What if he uses it against you?"

Rachel knew Cecilia was scared for her. But at this point, there was no turning back.

"This is my mom's dying wish. I have to finish it," Rachel said firmly.

She didn't have much time left.

Cecilia had known Rachel since college, so she knew that once Rachel made up her mind, nothing could change it.

After thinking for a moment, she sighed. "Alright, I'm in. But be careful. If word gets out that the wife of Lewis Enterprise's CEO is helping their rival company, it's going to stir up a storm."

Rachel's grip tightened around Cecilia's hand. "I'll be careful. Thank you."

After leaving the breakroom, Rachel quietly packed up her things. As she was straightening up her desk, something fell and broke. Bending down to pick it up, she realized it was a picture of her and William—one they had taken when they first started dating. Their heads were close together, smiling shyly.

Back then, they had been so happy, like nothing could stand in their way as long as they had each other. Now, it all felt like a joke.

Rachel picked up the broken frame and tossed it in the trash. As she finished tidying up, Cecilia sent a message.

[I used all my connections and got you fifteen minutes.]

Rachel texted back: [That's enough.]

This was it. Whether she succeeded or failed, it all came down to that moment.

With her project proposal in hand, Rachel made her way to LS Enterprise.

Cecilia gave her a quick pat on the shoulder. "Use your skills to win him over. If that doesn't work, try using your charm!"

Rachel couldn't help but laugh at her friend's silly joke.

"What if he's into men?" she teased.

Cecilia paused, unsure how to respond.

After saying goodbye, Rachel entered the building. But once she got into the elevator, doubt started to creep in.

She had heard that the owner of LS Enterprise was notoriously difficult to deal with. He was always hard to reach, but his company's success far outpaced Lewis Enterprise. Rumor had it that the founder, Tyler Hunt, had built the company from scratch in just two or three years, turning it into an industry leader. Because of that, he had become a legendary figure.

When Rachel arrived at the office door, she hesitated for a moment before knocking.

A cold voice came from inside: "Come in."

Rachel took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The moment she entered, she was met with the cold, monochrome tones of black, white, and gray. The man inside had sharp features, giving him an intimidating look that made him seem distant and unapproachable.

He was still talking to an employee, but once Rachel's eyes locked onto him, she couldn't look away. He had a presence that was impossible to ignore. Unlike the kind of coldness Willam had, Tyler had a more aggressive edge. His serious expression and strikingly sharp features made him look even more intense.

Rachel hadn't expected anyone else to be in the room. She quietly sat down on the couch, watching Tyler. He was focused, his sharp gaze never flickering from the papers in front of him. He didn't notice her presence at all.

She wasn't in a hurry, so she waited, letting the silence settle until his subordinate finished reporting. The man, still signing documents, spoke without looking up.

"Find out who let her in. Fire the person involved."

The subordinate froze for a second, glancing at Rachel sitting on the couch, then nodded.

"Understood, Mr. Hunt."

Rachel's heart skipped a beat. She had heard rumors that LS Enterprise's CEO was ruthless and quick to act when someone made a mistake. She could see that it was all true.

In the time it took him to sign a contract, someone had been fired.

Hoping to avoid getting thrown out, Rachel quickly stated her purpose. To her surprise, Tyler didn't even lift his head. Rachel knew he was listening, so she continued explaining her plan.

Once she finished speaking, Tyler finally looked up from his papers. His gaze was sharp, almost too intense, his eyes giving off a pressure that made Rachel feel small under his scrutiny. For some reason, even though this was their first meeting, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen him before.

Ready to make her pitch, she cleared her throat and continued, saying, "Mr. Hunt, if I can help your company secure the rights to the Oasis Project, over the next three years, your company will experience a major breakthrough. Plus, the land near Oasis gives you plenty of room to expand..."

He interrupted her: "Mrs. Lewis, did you get into a fight with your husband, or is this just your company's new strategy?"

As he spoke, he placed the file aside, but his sharp gaze lingered on her.

Rachel was caught off guard. She hadn't expected such a blunt response, but she held her ground.

"I know you might have doubts, but I genuinely want to help your company secure the rights. No one knows this project better than I do."

Tyler set down his pen and leaned back in his chair, lazily raising an eyebrow. "When gods fight, the mortals suffer?"

Rachel pursed her lips, trying to explain herself by saying, "I'm not asking for any money, but I have one condition. If you secure the rights, I get the final say on the design."

His piercing gaze didn't leave her. He leaned slightly forward, his voice low and deliberate as he said, "You should understand what coming to me for negotiations means."

"I do," Rachel replied, meeting his eyes with steady resolve. "It means I might end up making enemies on both sides. If this gets out, Lewis Enterprise will hold me accountable, and you'll have every reason to think I'm a spy sent from them."

Tyler seemed amused. "I'm curious, though. Since the Oasis Project is already under your company, why are you here?"

Rachel lowered her gaze, her voice quieter now as she said, "Because of personal reasons that I can't discuss. However, this project is crucial for me."

Tyler tapped his finger on the desk. "I heard you're not in charge of the project anymore. A new person was brought in."

He paused for a moment, letting the words settle before speaking again.

"But that doesn't concern me. I have no reason to wade through your personal drama," he added, his tone cold and deliberate.