It was 8:50. Skadi drove to the apartment building and, as usual, called Hera to come down. It wasn't until 9:20 that Hera finally hobbled out, her high heels clicking on the pavement. Nash followed, hands in his pockets, asking, "Are you sure you don't want me to look at it?" Due to elevator maintenance, they took the stairs, and Hera sprained her foot in her haste.

"I have an important client meeting at 9:30, and I can't afford to waste any more time!" Hera gritted her teeth, enduring the pain. He smirked. "Well, why were you so slow then? It took you thirty minutes just for breakfast and makeup…" She pouted, silent. A man had been watching her eat breakfast. Normally, she'd scarf it down, but today, she savored each bite. He'd even watched her apply makeup—something she'd never done in front of a man before.

As they left the building, they saw Skadi leaning against the car, a black leather jacket draped over her shoulders. Sunglasses shielded her eyes, her hair pulled back in a ponytail; she exuded an aura of heroic elegance. Spotting them, she lowered her sunglasses, giving Nash a meaningful look.

"Nash Calcraft, don't you understand how to cherish and protect women? Don't you know how painful it is for a woman's first time?"

Nash was puzzled. "What first time?"

"Stop pretending!" Skadi stepped forward, offering Hera support. "Hera, want a day off to rest?"

Hera blushed, glaring at Skadi. "Stop making things up. I just sprained my foot on the stairs!"

"I know, I know. I'll get you some painkillers later!" Skadi acted as if she knew everything. Women were often shy, she thought; she refused to believe nothing had happened between a man and a woman alone.

Hera instinctively reached for the passenger door, but Skadi grabbed the handle, smiling. "You should sit in the back…" She opened the rear door and gently but firmly ushered Hera inside. Nash entered on the other side. Skadi closed the door, clapped her hands, and slid into the driver's seat. "Hold on tight. We're in a hurry, so I might drive a bit fast!"

Hera looked down at her swollen ankle. Nash saw her pained expression. "Let me take a look. If it's a bone misalignment, it needs immediate treatment!"

Without waiting for her consent, he gently took her delicate ankle, placing it on his leg. Her ankle felt like a cotton ball beneath his touch; he was amazed by its smoothness. Hera wore a knee-length skirt.

"Ah… Gentler…" she cried out in pain, biting her lip. Her small hand clutched her skirt.

Skadi glanced in the rearview mirror. "You really sprained your foot?"

Hera replied irritably, "What else could it be?" Skadi smiled, saying nothing; she seemed to have misunderstood.

Nash removed Hera's high heel, holding her ankle and foot gently as he manipulated it. She wore thin socks, and she felt the warmth of his large palm on her sole.

"It's a misalignment! Bear with it for a moment!" He stared at her ankle, his voice deep.

She tightened her grip on her skirt. "Please be gentler…"

"I'm going to count to three. Ready?"

"Okay…" Hera broke into a cold sweat, taking a deep breath.

"Three!"

"Ack…!" Nash applied pressure, and Hera heard the sickening sound of bones shifting, accompanied by her own scream. He hadn't counted to three; she wasn't ready.

Tears streamed down her face as she glared resentfully.

"Try moving your ankle…"

He released her foot. She moved it tentatively. The pain was gone. She looked at him, a tearful smile on her face. "It doesn't hurt anymore…"

His lips curved slightly as he leaned back, closing his eyes.

The Baroque subsidiary branch was in Northjon's Second Industrial Zone. Hera, with Nash and Skadi, arrived at the conference room. Office clerks were tidying desks.

Hera looked puzzled. "Where's Mr. Yates?"

The clerk replied, "Mr. Yates received a call and left. He's canceling all collaborations with our company!"

Hera's face paled. "C-Canceling all collaborations?" She sat, dazed. Mr. Yates was a major client; Baroque's stability depended on him. Could this be because she was late?

Skadi patted Hera's shoulder. "Hera, don't worry. Mr. Yates is an old client. Even if he wants to cancel, he'd inform us. Call him, apologize…"

Hera called; the other end hung up immediately, twice. She sent a WhatsApp message; only one tick appeared. Despair filled her. "He's blocked me. What do I do?"

Even Skadi frowned. "This shouldn't be happening. Mr. Yates is broad-minded. He wouldn't do this just because you were late."

Nash, sitting on the couch, casually asked, "Could someone be manipulating things?"

Helena's family wanted to harm Hera. Yesterday, they'd offended the Hills family's eldest son. Last night, a Rolls-Royce had been parked nearby; someone was clearly watching them. Hera had many enemies.

"Kai Watson…" Hera said suddenly, turning to Skadi. "Kai's a Yates Group investor. He must have spoken to Mr. Yates!"

Kai was the Watsons' eldest son, heir to Jonford's wealthiest family, and Helena's boyfriend. Hera had had a falling out with Helena yesterday. She likely asked Kai to cancel the collaboration, pushing Baroque into a corner.

Hera clenched her fists, resentment burning in her eyes.

"Ms. Lewis, Ms. Helena has arrived!" the clerk announced.

Hera replied coldly, "I'm not seeing her." She was probably here to mock her.

"Since she's here, why not meet her? Refusing to face her shows weakness. It'll only embolden her," Nash said, casually folding his legs.

Hera hesitated, looking at Skadi. She'd taken over the subsidiary company in her sophomore year, just two and a half years ago. She was often uncertain, consulting her parents. Only with Skadi's arrival did she have someone to make decisions with.

Skadi nodded. "Nash is right. The more she suppresses us, the more fearless we should be!"