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Chapter 16
I never imagined things would unravel this way. Shine Co. had promising prospects just a short time ago.Anna called me with some news.
"It seemed Nicole found out this project involved your collaboration with Shine Co. To stop Sonny from contacting you again, she secretly stole the bid documents and leaked the base price to rival companies."
"Originally, several headhunters had been eyeing Shine Co., but now, with this incident, not only are the contract terms unattractive, but they also doubt its capabilities and confidentiality standards."
"It is in dire straits now. They need to urgently secure funds from other projects."
I was shocked but not entirely surprised. Sonny's indulgence of Nicole was bound to backfire. His endless spoiling of her had paved the way for her to cross more and more boundaries, ultimately harming his interests.Shine Co. was Sonny's creation. He built it from the ground up. He didn't have much liquid capital, with most funds tied up in the company's operations. In reality, a company of this size relied heavily on cash flow and opportunities to cash out were rare.Only by relying on profitable investment projects could the company grow and possibly elevate to the next level. Now, he found himself pushed to the edge of a cliff by his beloved sister.
Pebbles slipped beneath his feet and one more misstep would mean a complete downfall.
Bella felt a sudden sense of relief. The cycle of karma never failed and the consequences were inescapable. Sonny's current predicament was entirely his own doing.
It was in this situation that they ran into each other again.I was visiting a new partner company for research, while Sonny was there seeking investment. Our meeting was unexpected, but we tacitly ignored each other, pretending we did not know each other.I had no interest in speaking to him, while Sonny
couldn't afford to create a poor impression, as this negotiation was critical.
Both parties made good progress, and in the end, Vice President Leo insisted on hosting everyone for dinner.Unable to refuse, I reluctantly joined the gathering.
As the collaboration seemed to solidify, Sonny finally relaxed a bit. The tension and fatigue faded from his face as he shared drinks and conversation with Vice President Leo over dinner.
When I stepped outside, I saw Sonny leaning against the hallway outside the private dining room. He was smoking a cigarette.Smoke curled around him, obscuring his expression, but I knew he had to be devastated. The near-successful deal had collapsed and his final chance to save the company had gone up in flames.
His usual upright posture slumped against the wall, his weariness could be clearly seen.
"Bella,"he called out, his voice hoarse, his expression dazed and lost. "I'm sorry. It was my fault."He seemed to be reminiscing, not speaking directly to me, his gaze unfocused as he reflected aloud."I spoiled Nicole too much, turned her into this hateful, monstrous person and now it's come back to haunt me.""I should've listened to you back then. I thought indulging her was the best way to protect her. I was wrong."All I could think of was he deserved it. I had once tried to warn him, only to be met with disdain and harsh words."Well, this is what you wanted, right? Every step here was your own choice."