Veronica's expression remained calm as she reminded them of the contract breach penalties. She wouldn't bat an eye at terminating DataPulse Enterprises's collaboration with Stellar, provided they received the substantial compensation stipulated in their agreent.
"You!" Bonnie's face flushed with anger, itching to draft the contract violation paperwork right then and there.
Yet she paused, acutely aware of her limited authority within Stellar. Even with Niall's support, going against Dario, who clearly backed DataPulse Enterprises, would be foolish. The entire Crystal family, from Niall to Jade and Sophia, valued their relationship with Dario too much to risk antagonizing him over this.
Jade's lips thinned in distaste watching Bonnie flounder for a response. Even Penny's expression had hardened into sothing dangerous as she stared at Veronica. Neither had anticipated such a bold retort from soone they'd considered a re business associate.
Penny recovered quickly, her voice dripping with condescension. "Quite the sharp tongue you have there. But I wonder—are you truly confident your signature carries any legal weight?"
Vincent tensed beside Veronica, not having expected her to engage in a confrontation with mbers of such powerful families. He gently tugged at her hand, silently urging her to back down before the situation escalated beyond repair.
Veronica shook off his cautioning touch, eting Penny's frosty gaze with one even colder. Her voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Why don't we find out? Draft the agreent and I'll sign it. Then we'll all discover exactly how legally binding my signature is. Go ahead. I dare you."
Confidence radiated from every syllable she uttered.
Penny's lips pressed into a thin line. Since Niall and Cullen had begun their relationship, she'd grown accustod to deference from everyone in both the Crystal and Mack families. With Cullen's support, she'd never faced genuine opposition or felt belittled.
The fact that it was Veronica who now made her feel small only intensified her humiliation.
"What's happening here?" Niall's voice broke through the standoff as she approached the group.
Before anyone else could respond, Veronica seized the mont. "Ms. Mack accused DataPulse Enterprises of incompetence, suggesting that's why our staff needs to perform such frequent maintenance at Stellar facilities."
She continued without pause, "I simply inford her that if you find our services inadequate, you're welco to terminate our contract. Ms. Mack then questioned my authority to make such statents."
Veronica's tone remained asured yet unyielding. "I invited her to draft a violation of contract agreent, which I would sign, proving my authority in the matter. This lady," she pointed directly at Penny, "claid my signature wouldn't be legally binding. I challenged her to test that theory with the agreent, so everyone could witness the power my signature actually holds."
Her eyes never wavered from Niall's as she concluded, "They insulted my company without cause, yet when challenged to act on their accusations, they suddenly lost their nerve. What's your position on this matter, Ms. Crystal?"
Niall's lips tightened. This confrontation was completely unexpected and unwelco.
She recognized that if Veronica spoke with such certainty about her signature's validity, it must indeed carry legal weight. Signing a contract violation agreent would not only an paying substantial compensation but would also force Stellar to find another collaborator—potentially delaying their autonomous vehicle launch by months. The financial implications would be devastating.
Noticing Niall's hesitation, Veronica pressed further. "So you lack the courage as well, Ms. Crystal? Your people freely insulted DataPulse Enterprises's capabilities, yet when I requested formal docuntation of contract violation, everyone fell silent. Is this how it works? Do you believe your wealth and influence give you the right to belittle others without consequence?"
"You're overreacting," Niall responded, her tone glacial. "Ms. Murray, why must you escalate sothing so trivial?"
"Trivial?" Veronica's eyebrows rose. "Your cousin recklessly disparaged DataPulse Enterprises while your mother backed her in attempting to intimidate . Now that you recognize your family's error, instead of apologizing to my company, you accuse us of overreaction."
She studied Niall with undisguised disappointnt. "I've heard stories about your compassion, sensibility, and extraordinary kindness. But what I've witnessed today contradicts that reputation entirely."
Her final words hung in the air like a verdict. "Ms. Crystal, neither you nor your family embody the virtues others attribute to you."
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