Chapter 12: The Ultimatum

Ashia stood at the front of the conference room, her hands steady as she distributed copies of the contract between Mr. Jonas's company and SL to everyone present. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation and tension as she cleared her throat.

“As stated in clause 43, page 9,” Ashia began, her voice firm and unyielding, “it clearly indicates that Party B, which is Mr. Jonas, cannot have Mr. Zack De Rossoé as a partner in any way and should not have any connection with him either. You all may read clause 43, page 9, to confirm that what I’m saying is true.”

The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone began reading. The only sounds were the rustling of paper and the soft sighs of disbelief. Liya’s heart raced; she felt the gravity of the situation pressing down on her like a lead weight. She exchanged a glance with Ashia, who remained composed, but Liya could sense her tension.

After Two Minutes...

Ashia looked around, gauging the reactions of the room. “As everyone has read in clause 43, page 9, let’s proceed to the consequences of violating the contract,” she said, her tone authoritative. “For that, Mr. Jonas has to—”

Before she could finish, Mr. Jonas interrupted, his voice trembling. “Mr. Zack De Rossoé was not my business partner initially, but he became one by buying into the company I have a partnership with. I cannot interfere in my partner’s decisions.”

Mr. Vin Baez leaned forward, his brow furrowed in concern. “Mr. Jonas, even though you did not willingly violate the contract, your previous partner did. Legally, you have violated the contract,” he stated, his voice calm but heavy with the weight of the situation.

Mr. Jonas's face paled, and distress creased his forehead. “But I didn’t… uh…” He struggled to find the right words, his mind racing as the implications of the situation began to sink in. What mess did I get myself into?

“Mr. Jonas,” Vin continued, his tone unwavering, “you have two options. You can either break your partnership with Mr. Zack De Rossoé, or you will lose your company to SL as a result of violating clause 43, page 9 of the contract. So what is your choice, Mr. Jonas?”

The air in the room grew thick with tension. Liya watched as Mr. Jonas's hands trembled slightly, his eyes darting around the room, desperately seeking support. “I cannot do either!” he exclaimed, panic rising in his voice. “Breaking such a long partnership will cost me a fortune and tarnish my company’s reputation. On the other hand, I will lose my company!”

In that moment, Mr. Zack De Rossoé sat quietly, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. His demeanor was calm, almost smug, as he observed the unfolding drama. Liya’s gaze turned to him, icy and unyielding. Their eyes locked for a fleeting moment, the tension between them palpable. She felt a rush of anger mixed with something deeper—betrayal, perhaps. Then, breaking the gaze, she returned his smirk with a deadly smile of her own, determined to show him she wouldn’t be intimidated.

“Mr. Jonas,” Liya said, her voice slicing through the thick tension in the room, “I know you are not at fault; it’s just the situation you find yourself in. I suggest you break your partnership with Mr. Zack. Even though it may cost you a lot and tarnish your brand reputation, the project collaboration you have with SL will elevate your reputation far more. You will also gain your independence. If not, you won’t even have a company to call your own. Isn’t that right, Mr. Jonas?” She smirked, her eyes gleaming with calculated confidence as she turned her gaze between Mr. Jonas and Zack De Rossoé.

Mr. Jonas looked cornered, his face a mixture of fear and regret. “It is true, but give me some time to think,” he pleaded, his voice cracking, desperation leaking through every word.

“Mr. Jonas,” Liya interjected, her voice steely, filled with authority. “I do not have more time to waste in this meeting. You have three minutes to decide.”

The silence that followed felt suffocating. Every eye in the room turned to Mr. Jonas, who appeared more and more like a deer caught in headlights. He fidgeted in his seat, beads of sweat forming on his brow. “B-b-but...” he stammered, uncertainty clouding his judgment. “Alright…” The weight of his defeat hung heavily in the air, a bitter realization that he was trapped in a situation far beyond his control.

As Liya leaned back in her chair, a sense of satisfaction washed over her. She had come prepared to navigate this minefield, and now it seemed the tide was turning in her favor. She caught Zack’s gaze again, his smirk faltering for just a moment, and she couldn’t help but feel a surge of triumph.

Mr. Vin Baez broke the silence, leaning in slightly, ready to guide the meeting toward a resolution. “Mr. Jonas, your time is ticking. What will it be?”

As the minutes slipped away, the atmosphere in the room intensified, the stakes ever higher. Liya could feel the tension coiling around them all, waiting for Jonas's decision to unravel the carefully woven fabric of their meeting. The air was electric, charged with unspoken questions and potential consequences, and she knew that whatever choice Mr. Jonas made would reverberate throughout their professional lives.

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