Chapter 173

I chuckled and nodded. "Just trying to catch up on company matters as quickly as possible."

"I get it, but you're coming in far too early. You know we don't do overtime, right?" Ron joked. I smiled. "Yeah, it's voluntary."

"That's why you're a department head. If everyone were as dedicated as you, OceanixCorp would be unstoppable." His flattery was almost laughable, but with Ron, it was hard to discern jest from sincerity, so I didn't take it seriously.

"But seriously," he added, his tone shifting, "the company can't run on your shoulders alone. I've noticed how hard you've been working, and I've already informed upper management. The boss said no more early mornings. If you burn out, it would be a significant loss for the company."

So, Ron effectively prevented my early-morning arrivals. That was fine. I no longer needed to avoid Hayden; he hadn't left breakfast at my door for days, so I assumed he'd gotten the message.

"I heard you have a big client coming in today?" Ron asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, they're arriving at ten. About an hour from now," I replied, smiling briefly. "Mr. Shane, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish preparing."

"Of course, good luck," Ron said, raising his coffee cup in a casual salute.

I returned to my office and reviewed all the materials. By 9:50, I was in the conference room, ensuring everything was ready. This client was crucial. Securing this account would more than compensate for the resources Jace had recently taken—and boost our numbers, which wouldn't hurt.

Precisely at ten, the client arrived. But upon seeing who it was, my face fell. It was Jace. The company I was supposed to negotiate with wasn't RiverwaveCorp; he'd infiltrated under a different guise.

He immediately noticed my change in expression but simply smiled, extending his hand. "Hello, Ms. Kay."

I ignored his hand, staring at him, my anger rising. His smug demeanor, his air of authority, enraged me. But I maintained composure, replying coolly, "Are you here to conduct business, or to antagonize me?"

"Business, obviously. What else would I be here for?" Jace retorted, adopting a swaggering attitude. It was a stark contrast to his usual cold, distant demeanor.

"Fine. Let's discuss the terms of the deal," I said, fully aware of his ulterior motives. I proceeded professionally, despite my distrust.

I'd already reviewed the details of EverRise Energy, a two-year-old startup with significant potential and rapid growth. Clearly, Jace wasn't solely relying on RiverwaveCorp—his father's legacy, where Wayne always held influence.

Jace played along smoothly, agreeing to all my terms without hesitation. His cooperation was almost too seamless, raising red flags. He wasn't solely here for business.

After the negotiations and contract signing, he pulled me aside. "Rea, why waste your time as a small department director at this insignificant company?"

I remained silent, staring at him.

"Stop being stubborn," Jace continued, his casual tone laced with superiority. "I'll make you the boss. EverRise Energy could be yours."

"So, you're not here for business after all," I retorted sarcastically. "You're trying to poach me."

"I'm trying to bring you back to my side," Jace said, revealing a rare flicker of genuine emotion.

I glanced at his thin lips. Kehlmark elders believed men with thin lips were heartless, and perhaps there was truth to that.

"There's no need to repeat it. You understand we're finished, right?" I said calmly. Jace's face contorted in frustration. "I've done all this for you, and you still want more?"

"What I want," I replied firmly, "is for you to let go of the past and end this pointless back-and-forth."

His false smile vanished, the tension escalating. Before he could respond, Ron approached, standing beside me. He nodded curtly at Jace, then turned to me. "Ms. Kay, I just received word from the boss. He won't approve the deal."