Chapter 55: Nothing happened between us.
Denis shifted uneasily in his seat. He had been completely unaware that Becca was a corporate spy. He had regretted not dismissing her the moment he discovered she had tampered with Anne’s laptop.
His stubborn desire to break Anne’s resolve and force her into a vulnerable position had blinded him to Becca’s actions. As a result, the project data had been leaked. Now, he couldn’t shake the regret—had he acted sooner, he could have prevented this entire disaster.
"The client is now considering a new partner for the project," Gabriel said grimly. "Several companies have expressed interest, and they have already narrowed it down to two—Brisco and Starlite Corp. But that’s not what concerns me the most. The real issue is that the Sphere Group of Industries recently acquired Starlite Corp., and they have appointed Augustine as the new CEO."
Denis froze in his place, his pupils shrinking in shock. "What did you just say? Augustine is the CEO of Starlite Corp.?"
Gabriel gave a firm nod. "I had suspected when I met Augustine that day that he had changed, that he had powerful backing. But I never imagined he’d be connected to such a massive global conglomerate."
Denis remained silent, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He had underestimated Augustine.
"With backing that powerful, Augustine could become a serious threat to us," Gabriel voiced his concern. "I’m afraid he might take the business from us entirely."
"You’re worrying for nothing," Denis scoffed, his tone icy. "He is just a CEO—easily replaceable." Rising to his feet, he added, "Leave this to me. I’ll speak with the client and try to reinstate the contract. If necessary, I’m willing to pay compensation."
Gabriel sighed heavily, shaking his head. "I doubt that will work. We can’t compete with the Sphere Group."
Denis hesitated for a moment, his mind working swiftly. He knew his father was right; challenging such a corporate giant would be a losing battle. But then, a cunning glint flickered in his eyes.
"If the client refuses to work with us, that’s fine," Denis said flatly. "Instead, we’ll partner with an even bigger company—the Sphere Group itself."