جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 120

Kassidy's POV"If we look at subsection four of the indemnity clause, you will see that my firm is offering a perfectly balanced middle ground," I said, leaning forward and tapping the neat print on the thick contract packet. "We are willing to cap your liability at fifteen percent for the first fiscal year, provided that your logistics team guarantees the delivery dates we discussed on Tuesday. Personally, I feel it's a fair compromise that protects your capital while ensuring our client's distribution timeline stays intact."Everyone around the boardroom table was silent for a few seconds after I finished. The corporate reps across from me looked tired, their ties loosened, but I remained calm and observant. I was prepared to beat them down if I had to. I had practiced this pitch inside and out, and I wasn't going to let their size scare me into giving up our leverage."You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Townsend, I have to admit that.""I know. And furthermore," I added, a light smile o

ELIJAH'S POV "The numbers on page fourteen don't match the bank statements from March, Mr. Davies. From what I can see here, you logged a whooping four-hundred-thousand-dollar expense for offshore logistics, but the routing numbers belong to a shell corporation registered under your wife's maiden name. Would you care to explain this discrepancy to the board, or should we skip straight to the legal counsel?" The boardroom fell into a freezing silence. Across the long mahogany table, Mr. Davies looked like he had just been hit by a truck. His face went pale, his fingers trembling as he tried to smooth down his silk tie. "Mr. Ash... Mr. Ashford, please," Mr. Davies stammered, sweating under the ceiling lights. "There was a system error during the transition. The accounting depa

Kassidy's POVI fiddled with the front buttons of my tailored gray blazer as the elevator doors slid open on the executive floor of Ashford Holdings the next day. Beside me, my colleagues: David, a senior partner, and Sarah, our quick-witted junior associate, were busy reviewing notes on their digital tablets. I took a calm breath, preparing myself for another difficult corporate client. I fully expected to meet Elijah Ashford, I was sure he was just another hardened businessman who would try to test my expertise the moment we sat down. But I would beat him down the way I did Mr Henderson."Remember, Kassidy," David muttered as we stepped out into the reception hallway. "Ashford Holdings is looking for efficiency. They want to make sure we know our onions, so, be prepared for a tough crowd.""I am always prepared, David," I replied and he smiled reassuringly.We were guided by a polite receptionist down a long hallway lined with abstract art, eventually stopping before a set of doubl

Kassidy's POV The reunion with Eli had left me emotionally unsettled, but more than anything, it convinced me even more that Eli can never learn about my daughter. I sat on the closed lid of the toilet, my hands still damp from the cold water, staring at the white tile floor of the corporate bathroom. My mind was spinning out of control. But the initial shock was quickly hardening into something else: a fierce determination. He could never find out about Summer.  I had dragged myself through law school, survived the sleepless nights with a newborn, and built a safe, happy world in Austin. And I was not going to let him pull down the walls of the sanctuary I fought so hard to create. We would be strangers who happened to share a boardroom table and nothing more. With that resolution in my heart, I stood up, smoothed down the wrinkles in my skirt, and opened the bathroom door. When I got back to w

Kassidy's POVMy temporary apartment felt like a relief after what had happened with Eli that afternoon. It was the weekend, which meant that I had survived five days of the first batch of brutal meetings. I kept pacing from the kitchen to the window, unable to settle down until the doorbell rang. Opening it to see Celeste standing there with a bag of takeout and a warm smile felt like a lifeline. I breathed a sigh of relief, welcoming her inside and sinking onto the couch beside her.We unpacked the containers of noodles on the coffee table, the scent of garlic and soy sauce filling the small living room. For the first hour, we deliberately kept away from any talk of corporate acquisitions or the man running them."I still can't believe you're a senior associate now, babe," Celeste said, twisting a forkful of noodles. "I remember when you were staying up until three in the morning and crying over tort law."I laughed, the sound lifting some of the heaviness from my shoulders. "Trust