Chapter 20

Chapter 21

At this point, the assistant was genuinely curious how Aurora planned to handle things.

Aurora shook her head. “I’m not sure either. Right now, all I can do is take a shot in the dark.”

“One thing’s for sure–we need to talk to the decision-makers directly. They can’t just cut ties without a word and expect us to roll over.”

The assistant nodded quickly. That made perfect sense.

Aurora pointed to a name on the list. “Start with Mr. Warren. He’s the key player here. If we’re taking anyone down, we start with the kingpin.”

Noticing the assistant’s puzzled look, she didn’t bother to explain further. She added, “I’ll head to their headquarters myself. Maybe I’ll get lucky. The rest, we’ll take one step at a time.”

The assistant could only nod along. He understood exactly what she meant–and just how tough this was going to be. It wasn’t just risky, it would eat up time and energy.

“Are you going straight to their main office then?” he asked.

Aurora nodded. “It’s the only option. We can’t just accept being iced out without a fight.”

“I’ll handle things with the Chairwoman,” the assistant offered. "I’ll smooth it over.”

He meant it. He wanted Aurora to succeed–her rise meant smoother days for him too. They’d gotten used to working together.

Aurora stood and grabbed her bag. “If anyone drops by, turn them away. And if there’s a contract to sign, send it to me first. I’ll decide after reviewing it.”

“Understood. Stay safe, Miss Walton.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got this,” she said over her shoulder. And with that, Aurora walked out, ready to face those so-called business partners herself. She was about to find out exactly what kind of game they were playing.

Back at Walton Corp, the assistant kept a close eye on Aurora’s office. If anyone came knocking, he’d politely explain that the General Manager was currently tied up and offer to pass along any messages. That usually did the trick–most people turned and left without pushing further.

Meanwhile, Aurora arrived outside the office building of one of the key suppliers, determined to take the most old-fashioned approach: wait them out. In a mess like this, communication was still king. Chapter 21

Without it, nothing else mattered. She approached the front desk and politely asked the receptionist to let David know that she was here to see him.

The receptionist gave her a slow once-over, clearly sizing her up with a less-than-kind look in her eyes. Walton Corporation? She scoffed inwardly. Their boss had already made it crystal clear that the company wanted nothing to do with them anymore. And yet here this woman was, still bold enough to show up in person. What a joke.

“Our boss already said–no meetings with anyone from Walton Corporation,” the receptionist said curtly.

Aurora raised a brow. “Are you sure that’s exactly what he said?”

“Of course.”

Aurora pressed her lips together, unwilling to let the opportunity slip away so easily. “Then just let him know I’m here. One message–that’s all I’m asking.”

“I said he’s not seeing anyone. You don’t give up, do you? What, do you have a secret affair with him or something?”

The moment those words left her mouth, the receptionist’s eyes narrowed in disdain. How typical. Pretty face and confident attitude; she must’ve tried to lure her way into a deal. With that pretty face!

Aurora’s gaze turned sharp, the temperature around her seemingly dropping. “I suggest you watch your words. Making baseless accusations? That’s slander. I could sue you for it.”

The receptionist blinked, startled by the sudden frost in Aurora’s voice, and the unmistakable authority.