I gave a tight-lipped nod, a faux smile stered on my face. "Wee."


    Sparse apuse trickled through the office, its enthusiasm as thin as morning fog.


    Everyone still had fresh memories of the time he''d overhauled the team, making more than a few enemies in the process.


    But York, he had a knack for winning people over. In just a few days, by treating folks to breakfast and afternoon coffee runs, whispers of his generosity began to circte.


    After all, he wasn''t just eyeing the small pond of the Design Department. He had his sights set on the vast ocean that was the Patterson Group. Jade, sipping her icedtte, couldn''t help but vent.


    "How loaded is this guy? One day it''s a buffet, the next it''s Starbucks for everyone. If he keeps this up, I might as well hand over my department head title to him."


    I handed her my own icedtte, staying silent. An enemy that moves in silence is plotting something big.


    And sure enough, during the tripartite meeting that afternoon, York dropped his bombshell.


    He wanted to switch out our current suppliers and construction crew.


    "With a project as big as the overpass, their quotes are sky-high. This isn''t good for our profits."


    "I''ve done my homework. These suppliers offer quality partnerships at a 10% lower cost. Take a look," he said, distributing the documents with a challenging nce at Clyde.


    "For a project of this magnitude, Mr. Patterson, you should really be more hands-on. You can''t just take your subordinates'' word for it."


    "Subordinates? Mnie? She''s not just the head of design, she''s my wife. Half of the Patterson Group belongs to Mnie. Her choice of partners is undoubtedly the best."


    Clyde tossed the documents aside without a nce.


    Vinson, however, scrutinized them, his expression growing darker.


    I also picked up on the surprisingly low quotes from several suppliers, which raised my suspicions.


    Aspire World owned some of these factories, and undercutting their market prices seemed impossible.


    Despite the evident red gs, most


    were swayed by York''s argumentet


    thed by York''s met


    The lure of profits blinded them to the risks.


    "Mr. Patterson, we can''t just take these documents at face value for such a crucial decision. We should discuss this further. Safetyes first, especially with prices so below market."


    I didn''t outright reject the proposal, and surprisingly, York didn''t argue.


    Vinson''s investigation turned up no red gs.


    "The suppliers are fully certified, never had issues in over twenty years. It''s just this discount..."


    We didn''t need him to finish. We sensed the catch.


    Clyde frowned. "I checked too. No issues. They''re aiming for a long-term partnership."Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    I shook my head. A long-term


    partnership didn''t justify


    a loss, especially for such


    large


    suppliers.


    Would their workers not eat for a year after taking on such a project?


    The three of us sat in silence in the office, struggling to find a logical exnation.


    After a long pause, Vinson spoke up.


    "Aspire World''s factories can cut prices by 10%, but we''ll need an additional two projects aspensation."


    I couldn''t believe it. This would significantly cut into hispany''s profits.


    But securing two additional projects might bnce the scales.


    After a moment of contemtion, Clyde nodded.


    "Fine. I''ll bring up this proposal at tomorrow''s meeting."


    He turned to Vinson, his voiceced with determination. "But don''t even think about making a move on my wife!"