Free Web NovelChapter 160: Chapter 160 A Toast to Perfect Timing
Sylvia’s POV
The moment I walked into our meeting place with Henry in tow, I couldn’t help but notice how much more approachable Landers seemed compared to John. The two men were like night and day - where John had exuded calculated shrewdness, Landers radiated warmth and spoke with genuine gentleness.
That gut feeling gave me real hope. Working with someone like Landers would surely be different from the nightmare I’d had with John.
After a brief handshake, we took our seats at the table while our assistants remained standing nearby.
"Please, sit down," I gestured to the empty chairs. "No need for all the formality. You must be tired."
Landers’ assistant looked completely thrown. "I—I’m allowed?"
"Of course," I smiled warmly. "It’s just a business lunch, after all."
Before I could say another word, Henry had already dropped into his chair, ready to dig in. I shot him a look that could kill.
"Henry! Others haven’t even sat down yet. What happened to your manners?" I chided.
Henry scratched his head awkwardly. "Sorry, boss. Old habits die hard from our previous meetings. Still adjusting." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
I noticed Landers’ assistant giving us this weird look, so I couldn’t help but ask, "Something wrong?"
He quickly shook his head, "Not at all, Ms. Sylvia. Just surprised by how you interact with your assistant."
I’d heard enough office gossip to know my reputation wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy.
"Rumors have a way of twisting the truth about successful people, don’t they?" I raised an eyebrow. "I’m nothing but genuine with my allies. I save the claws for my enemies."
Seeing the exchange, Landers gestured for his assistant to take a seat as well.
"Mr. Landers," I began with a smile, "I believe we both know why I’m here today. I’m looking to make a deal."
"What kind of deal are we talking about?" Landers asked, his voice carrying none of the condescension John’s had held.
I leaned forward slightly. "Most importantly, I understand you’re going head-to-head with John for the position at LC Corporation. Working with Frostline Enterprises would be a guaranteed win for you. I can make that happen."
Landers nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds good on paper, but this project is currently under John’s jurisdiction. I’m concerned about catching hell from upper management if I step on toes."
I casually brushed back a strand of hair, letting my confidence show. "Leave that headache to me." My wolf stirred beneath my skin, pleased by the strategic move we were making. "I’ll handle John."
Meeting Landers’ gaze directly, I lifted my chin with confidence. "He was planning to screw me over anyway. Why would I continue working with someone like that? Besides, now I have you, Mr. Landers. As long as you don’t stab me in the back, I’m confident our partnership will be a goldmine for years to come."
The message was crystal clear, and I knew Landers was sharp enough to catch my meaning.
I handed him the contract I’d had prepared. "This is the agreement my team drafted. If everything checks out, we can seal the deal today."
Landers exchanged a look with his assistant, who took the document and reviewed it carefully. After a thorough examination, the assistant gave Landers a subtle thumbs up.
I straightened up, feeling the power shift in my favor. John had clearly thought he had me backed into a corner, counting on my reluctance to abandon the project. But I wasn’t about to play the victim in his little power game.
Why should I bet everything on one rotten apple when I could find a whole orchard? fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
The realization made me smile more genuinely at Landers. This partnership already felt like a breath of fresh air.
"Ms. Sylvia," Landers said, his tone serious, "we’re both smart enough to understand what’s at stake. If we’re working together, you need to cut ties completely with John."
He tapped the contract thoughtfully. "And I’d suggest we make some noise about our new partnership publicly—position it as taking Frostline Enterprises to the next level."
"Absolutely," I nodded confidently. "I’m all over it, and I’ll handle everything as needed. You have my word."
Landers’ expression brightened as he picked up the contract and signed it with authority.
He extended his hand across the table. "Here’s to kicking ass together."
"To kicking ass," I echoed, grasping his hand firmly.
As our hands met under the restaurant lighting, I felt the electric charge of this alliance. Two alphas joining forces, even if only one of us knew I carried that bloodline.
I’d made the right call. If John wanted to play dirty, I could change the game just as fast.
"Henry, snap a pic of this moment," I instructed. "We’ll need it for the press release I want pushed out immediately."
Henry took the shot while I mentally composed the announcement that would showcase our new partnership with LC Corporation.
Landers watched with obvious amazement as I had Henry upload the image and announcement to our company’s social media accounts right from the table.
"You don’t mess around," he remarked, newfound respect lighting up his eyes.
"Having a partner like you makes the decision a no-brainer," I replied with a genuine smile.
He raised his glass. "To perfect timing."
"To absolutely perfect timing," I agreed, clinking my glass against his before taking a deeply satisfying sip.
As notifications started blowing up our phones with industry reactions to the news, I couldn’t help but feel this rush of triumph. This partnership was exactly what both Landers and I needed.
Across the table, I could see Landers was eating this up just as much as I was.
