Chapter 3 Company Crisis

• During the board meeting at Emilia's company, all department heads were gathered, their faces tense and anxious.
• "Miss Parker, Callister Group has terminated our contract without notice. We have grounds to sue for damages!" insisted the sales manager.
• "That won't work. While our products exceed national standards, they fall short of Callister Group's specific requirements. Despite their verbal agreement to follow national standards, the contract clearly states Callister Group's criteria. Legally, we have no case," explained the corporate attorney.
• "So, we're stuck with these unsold goods? We were relying on Callister Group's payment to clear our debts. We purchased the raw materials on credit!" the accountant exclaimed.
• A collective gasp filled the room. They had believed the company was flourishing, but one decision from Callister Group had brought them to the brink of disaster.
• "Miss Parker, I've discovered that Mr. Sheldon Walker personally ordered the cancellation. This must be a misunderstanding. You should speak with Mr. Walker directly. After all, you were the one who negotiated the contract with him," suggested Emilia's assistant, Sherry Carter.
• Emilia nodded, understanding Sherry's point.
• She recalled Sheldon's warm demeanor during their contract negotiations. He had been exceptionally lenient, even advancing a 30 percent deposit upfront, which was against industry norms.
• Emilia also realized that there must be some misunderstanding; otherwise, Sheldon would not have personally ordered the cancellation of the cooperation.
• "Alright, everyone, stay calm and keep working. I'll go visit Sheldon," Emilia assured them.
• She then drove to Callister Group.
• Arriving at the imposing Callister Group headquarters, Emilia took a moment to compose herself. She opened her purse, retrieved a small mirror, and meticulously adjusted her makeup before stepping out of her car.
• Sheldon's office, perched at the very top of the skyscraper, came to mind. Emilia vividly remembered the day he had invited her up to finalize their agreement.
• The memory of gazing out over the sprawling city of Kinlande, feeling an exhilarating sense of empowerment, was still fresh.
• As Emilia entered the building, she was promptly approached by the receptionist. "Good afternoon, Miss. Who are you here to see?"
• "I'm here to see Mr. Sheldon Walker," Emilia responded confidently.
• "Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked, maintaining her professional demeanor.
• "No, but I'm acquainted with Mr. Walker," Emilia replied with a warm smile.
• The receptionist's expression turned skeptical. "A lot of people claim to know Mr. Walker. But does he know you?" she remarked, a hint of disdain in her voice. "Dressed in designer brands, and yet, you're just another gold digger."
• The receptionist had encountered numerous women like Emilia, all professing familiarity with Mr. Walker. She had dismissed one such individual just moments earlier.
• Emilia's initial surprise quickly gave way to rising irritation, but she kept her composure. "Mr. Walker and I are friends," she asserted.
• "Friends without an appointment?" the receptionist replied coolly.
• "I'll call Mr. Walker right now," Emilia said, her patience thinning.
• Determined to prove the receptionist wrong, Emilia eagerly prepared to demonstrate her genuine connection with Mr. Walker.
• A phone call was placed, yet unexpectedly, Sheldon did not respond.
• As Emilia contemplated making another attempt, she suddenly heard a voice.
• "No need to call again!"
• Sheldon had materialized without her awareness.
• "Mr. Walker, I apologize; I genuinely didn't realize she was your acquaintance..." the receptionist hastily remarked upon witnessing the scenario.
• "Mr. Walker..." Emilia regarded Sheldon as though he were her savior.
• "Do I know you?" Sheldon didn't even acknowledge Emilia.
• "Mr. Walker, I'm Emilia Parker..." Emilia stood speechless.
• "I'm sorry, but I don't recognize you. Do you not understand? Please leave now!" Sheldon said, his irritation evident.
• "Mr. Walker, you..." Emilia was left utterly perplexed!
• "Miss, please leave, or I will summon security!" The receptionist quickly grasped Sheldon's intent.
• "Mr. Walker, why did you terminate our collaboration..." Emilia queried, refusing to relent.
• "Security!" the receptionist shouted.
• Two security personnel rushed in and promptly escorted Emilia out.
• "Mr. Walker! Mr. Walker..." Emilia persisted in her pleas.
• Yet Sheldon disregarded her, observing her as if she were a mere spectacle.
• Emilia, now that you're divorced from Mr. Newman, I expect you to repay the insult you once inflicted on him tenfold, a hundredfold!
• As she gazed at the Callister Group building, Emilia experienced a wave of disorientation. Previously, Sheldon had treated her with the utmost kindness, but now he had adopted this demeanor and forcibly ejected her.
• Emilia was unaware of how she returned to the office.
• Witnessing Emilia's despondent state, everyone in the company felt a pang of apprehension.
• "Miss Parker, how did the meeting go? Is there any glimmer of hope?" the accountant inquired.
• "Sheldon claimed he doesn't recognize me..." Emilia shook her head in despair.
• The flicker of hope that had momentarily existed among the staff had now completely extinguished.
• "What went wrong? Did we err in some manner?" the technical director pondered.
• "Miss Parker, you must devise a solution. Without funding from Callister Group, we cannot settle our debts with the raw material suppliers. If we fail to meet the payment deadline, the penalties will be astronomical! Our company could face insolvency!" the accountant urged in alarm.
• An icy tension enveloped the room.
• "Indeed, Miss Parker, when we submitted our bid, we approached it with a tentative mindset, yet Callister Group insisted on selecting us..." Emilia's secretary, Sherry, interjected.
• "There were many other firms more qualified and capable, yet Callister Group was determined to choose us. Mr. Walker even personally signed the agreement with us. However, we have had no prior dealings with them," Sherry added.
• "Correct, Miss Parker; at that time, Mr. Walker specifically sought you out to sign the agreement. We assumed you were acquainted with him, but now it appears otherwise..." the sales manager commented.
• "Miss Parker, given that Mr. Walker no longer acknowledges you, it suggests someone must have assisted you back then. Miss Parker, think hard about who that could be," Sherry urged, seemingly struck by a revelation.
• Emilia, engulfed in despair, abruptly straightened up. She realized that Sherry's insight might very well be accurate.
• Emilia took a moment to reflect on her memories.
• "It must have been Mr. Derek..." she finally uttered.
• Mr. Hewitt, fully known as Derek Hewitt, was the son of Zach Hewitt, the proprietor of the Kinlande Grand Hotel.
• The Kinlande Grand Hotel stood as the premier five-star establishment in Kinlande, a favored venue for corporate leaders to convene and negotiate business deals. Even some government officials found it a pleasant spot to unwind.
• Consequently, Zach encountered numerous prominent individuals.
• Previously, Derek had shown interest in Emilia, relentlessly pursuing her even after discovering her marital status, showering her with gifts and flowers.
• In the end, since Emilia remained unresponsive, the situation gradually slipped into uncertainty.
• Emilia suspected that Derek had sought to ingratiate himself with her, prompting him to solicit his dad's help, which ultimately resulted in securing the business arrangement between their company and Callister Group.