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Chapter_137
Whitney’s gaze snapped to the door as Simon burst into the room, his frantic energy cutting through the tension that had already settled between her and the others. Troy and Faith froze for a moment, surprised by his sudden entrance. Simon, breathless and disheveled, scanned the room quickly before his eyes locked on Whitney.
“Whitney, please, you can’t be serious about this!” Simon’s voice trembled as he rushed to her side. His panic was palpable, and it only added to the charged atmosphere. “You’re really going to cut me out like this?”
Whitney’s heart gave a small lurch at his words, but she quickly masked it with a cool, professional demeanor. She had already made her move, and there was no turning back now.
“Simon,” she said, her voice calm and measured, though her words carried an unmistakable edge, “This isn’t personal. It’s business.”
Troy leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched the unfolding drama. “Business is right. It’s a tough world out there, Simon. Seems like Whitney’s learned how to play the game.”
Faith, sitting with her arms crossed, gave Simon a sympathetic yet mocking glance. “I told you this was coming. Looks like the tides have turned. No more handouts from Whitney. She’s taking charge now.”
Simon’s face reddened with a mix of frustration and embarrassment, but there was a trace of desperation too. He turned back to Whitney, his eyes pleading. “You can’t do this. Not after everything we’ve been through. You’re taking everything I worked for.”
Whitney stood her ground, her expression unwavering. She could feel the tension in the room, but she refused to let it shake her. “You had your chance, Simon. But you’ve made too many mistakes. I’ve given you more than enough opportunities. Now, I’m securing my future. This partnership with Troy and Faith—it’s the next step.”
Troy gave a chuckle, clearly entertained by the spectacle. “She’s not wrong. The world’s moving on, Simon. You can either keep running in circles, or you can join the winning side.”
Faith looked at Simon with a hint of amusement, but there was no sympathy in her eyes. She had no intention of playing savior to him. “It’s over, Simon. Time to face the music.”
Simon’s face crumpled, the weight of everything crashing down on him. He turned to Whitney one last time, his voice a quiet whisper. “You were always my best chance, Whitney. Please… don’t make me your enemy.”
Whitney’s heart gave a reluctant thump in her chest, but she quickly suppressed the feeling. It was too late for second chances. She had a bigger vision now, and Simon was just a casualty in the ruthless game of business.
Her lips tightened. “I’m not making you my enemy, Simon. You’ve done that all on your own.”
The room fell into a tense silence as Simon stood there, stunned and defeated. Whitney took a deep breath, steadying herself as she turned back to Troy and Faith.
“Well, we’ve got a deal to discuss, don’t we?” she said coolly, shifting the focus back to business. “Let’s not waste any more time.”
Troy’s grin widened. “Oh, we’re definitely not wasting time. Let’s talk numbers.”
Faith exchanged a glance with Troy, clearly pleased with how the situation had played out. They were going to walk away with a solid partnership, and Simon—well, he was no longer part of the equation.
Simon stood frozen for a few moments longer, as if trying to process everything. But finally, with one last look at Whitney, he turned and stormed out of the room, his footsteps heavy with defeat.
As the door slammed shut behind him, the atmosphere shifted. Whitney, now fully in control of the room, turned back to Troy and Faith, who were already scanning the documents she had presented.
“Let’s get to work,” she said, her voice firm. The game had changed, and she was ready to lead the next chapter.
