Then Valentina’s pulse quickened as she scrolled through the details even more.
Two people had died.
The collapsed building wasn’t just a financial disaster—it had cost lives also. And now, the company was still entangled in legal battles, accused of cutting corners with substandard materials.
Her fingers tightened around her phone. This wasn’t just negligence. It was criminal.
Her gaze darkened as she continued digging.
"Who is behind this company?"
Then She pulled up the profile of the CEO. The mont she saw his na, her breath caught.
"Vincent Crowford."
Her brows furrowed as she tapped into more reports. Multiple assault allegations.
It wasn’t just the lawsuits about his business practices. Several forr employees had accused him of physical assault and threats. So cases had been dismissed, but others were still pending.
At that mont q bitter taste filled her mouth.
Sterling Design wasn’t just signing a risky partnership.
They were funding a criminal.
Her mind raced. If the court ruled against him, if he was fined or jailed before the five-year contract expired, Sterling Design would never see their money again.
Then her stomach twisted.
Was this even a business deal? Or a disguised bailout?
She let out a slow breath, gripping the contract in her hands.
Sothing wasn’t adding up.
Valentina’s eyes narrowed as she leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers against the desk.
This deal was too shady.
Imdiately she reached for the intercom and pressed the button. "Co in."
Monts later, a soft knock ca at the door, and her secretary stepped in.
"Yes, ma’am?"
Valentina slid the contract across the desk.
"Who’s in charge of this deal?"
The secretary hesitated before answering.
"That would be Camille, although Hudson approved."
At that mont Valentina’s jaw clenched slightly. So, it was her.
Camille had been one of the two managers who barely acknowledged her at the eting.
"And she was the one who negotiated this?" Valentina asked, her voice even.
"Yes, ma’am. She handled everything personally."
Valentina exhaled sharply, glancing back at the contract. Handled everything?
Then why did it feel like the company was being used?
Her secretary hesitated for a mont before adding, "I also heard that Mr. Crowford, the CEO of the company, will be visiting Sterling Design today... He’s coming to finalize the contract."
"Perfect timing."
She glanced up at her secretary, her expression unreadable.
"I see."
At that mont Valentina exhaled slowly, her fingers grazing over the contract as she absorbed the numbers once more. Sothing wasn’t adding up.
She leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. A five-year repaynt period? Every other contract she had reviewed had been one or two years at most—but five? And the investnt amount... $200 million?
Her gut told her that this was more than just a bad business deal. It was a trap.
With a decisive nod, she looked up at her secretary.
"When Mr. Crowford arrives, inform imdiately. I want to have a conversation with him about this deal."
Her secretary nodded, bowing slightly.
"Yes, ma’am. I’ll let you know the mont he steps into the building."
Valentina watched as the secretary exited the office, closing the door behind her.
For a mont, she stared at the contract again, flipping through the pages, searching for anything—any clause, any fine print—that could justify such an outrageous deal.
And why did it feel like Sterling Design was the one carrying all the risk while the other company was benefiting?
It didn’t sit right with her.
And what made it worse was what she had discovered about Mr. Crowford.
Two lawsuits for supplying low-quality materials. A collapsed building that led to two deaths. An assault allegation.
And yet, soone in Sterling Design approved this deal.
If Mr. Crowford was being sued and had major legal troubles, how was he planning to uphold his end of this contract?
More importantly—why was Sterling Design helping him stay afloat?
Her brows furrowed.
This wasn’t just a bad deal.
It felt like soone within Sterling Design was deliberately setting the company up to fail.
She wasn’t about to let that happen.
Valentina had spent the last hour combing through contracts, ticulously reviewing every detail, ensuring that each deal aligned with Sterling Design’s vision. She had already signed off on several—ones that were clear, beneficial, and without any shady loopholes. But this one...
This one she couldn’t ignore.
The contract with Crowford remained untouched on her desk, her pen resting beside it. Her instincts scread at her—this wasn’t right.
Yet, the man himself had yet to arrive.
She drumd her fingers on the polished wood, glancing at the ti. It had been hours.
Was he avoiding this eting?
At that mont Valentina exhaled sharply, grabbed her phone, and hit the call button. Within seconds, her secretary picked up.
"Any word on Mr. Crowford?"
There was a slight pause on the other end before the secretary responded, "No, ma’am. I haven’t received any calls about his arrival."
Then Valentina’s jaw tightened.
This wasn’t adding up. If this deal was so important, why hadn’t he shown up yet?
"Alright, contact the reception desk. Let them know that the mont Mr. Crowford arrives, I want to be inford imdiately. No delays."
"Yes, ma’am. I’ll handle it right away."
As Valentina ended the call, she leaned back in her chair, her eyes locked on the unfinished contract in front of her.
Not long after her secretary called. Valentina’s fingers tightened around her phone as she listened to her secretary’s voice on the other end, the frustration evident in her tone.
"Ma’am, the receptionist just inford that Mr. Crowford is already inside Sterling Design. Not just that—he’s already in the office where we usually handle contract negotiations."
Valentina’s brows furrowed.
"Already inside? and no one inford ?" she asked, her tone calm but edged with irritation.
"Apparently, the decision was made by—" her secretary hesitated before adding, "—Ms.Camille."
Valentina’s lips pressed into a thin line. Of course, it was her.
Camille had been resisting her presence since day one. And now she was making decisions behind her back?
Valentina exhaled sharply, trying to keep her emotions in check. This wasn’t just a slight—it was a deliberate challenge. A power move.
"Understood."
She ended the call and set her phone down, staring at the contract still lying open on her desk. This was already a suspicious deal. And now, the person responsible for bringing it in was also going behind her back to et the contractor without her?
That didn’t sit well with her.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself up from her chair. She didn’t need an invitation.
If Camille thought she could make decisions without her input, she was about to receive a very rude awakening.
With composed determination, Valentina strode toward the negotiation room, her heels clicking against the sleek flooring.
She was going to see this man face-to-face.
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