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Novel Catalog
Chapter 70
Cordy ended the call with a sharp click, her finger hovering over the button just long enough to ensure that Simon was left fuming. She felt a mix of satisfaction and frustration—satisfaction that she had stood her ground, and frustration that her father, once someone she could rely on, had become nothing more than a puppet master pulling strings behind the scenes.
She leaned back in her chair, her fingers massaging her temples as the weight of everything—the riot, her father’s machinations, her strained relationship with him—settled on her shoulders. The business side of things was consuming her, but the personal side… that was harder to ignore.
John’s face flashed in her mind unexpectedly. He had been on her mind more than she cared to admit, and his sly grin from last night lingered in her thoughts. What was she supposed to make of him? He was a complicated mix of charm, power, and something darker beneath the surface. Every time she thought she had him figured out, he surprised her again.
She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. There was no room for distractions, no matter how enticing they were. Starstream needed her full attention, especially now. The company was at a critical juncture, and she couldn’t afford any more slip-ups. Not when her father was waiting for her to fail.
Her phone buzzed again, pulling her out of her thoughts. This time, it was a message from Vince:
“The report from the plant is ready. I’ll meet you in an hour to discuss it.”
Cordy exhaled, gathering herself. Work. She could focus on work. At least for now.
An hour later, she was sitting across from Vince in a small meeting room. The air between them was tense, but not in a way that made Cordy uncomfortable. She respected Vince—he was pragmatic and sharp, everything that Starstream needed at this moment.
“Here’s the latest report,” Vince said, sliding a folder across the table to her. “It’s a mess, but we’ve got enough to move forward with some damage control. The workers are on edge, but we’ve identified the ringleaders. We’ll need to handle this carefully.”
Cordy opened the folder, scanning the contents quickly. Her eyes narrowed as she absorbed the details—everything was more complicated than she had hoped, but there was a clear path forward. They could take the necessary steps to safeguard the company’s reputation and, most importantly, protect herself from any legal consequences.
“We’ll start by isolating the troublemakers,” Cordy said, looking up from the report. “We can offer them settlements, but if they refuse, we’ll take the full legal route.”
Vince nodded. “I agree. It’s about setting a precedent. We can’t let anyone think they can disrupt the operation without consequences.”
Cordy’s mind was already working, considering how this would affect her standing at Starstream, and how to handle the coming public relations nightmare. She was no stranger to tough decisions, but this one felt different. The stakes were higher, and the game had changed.
Later that afternoon, after the meeting with Vince, Cordy couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She had been busy, but a nagging thought continued to pull at her mind, distracting her. She glanced at the clock—6 PM.
A soft knock at her door interrupted her thoughts. She looked up to see Noel standing in the doorway, looking both apologetic and defiant.
“Can we talk?” Noel asked, stepping in without waiting for an invitation.
Cordy studied her sister for a moment, noting the weariness in her eyes. “What is it, Noel?”
Noel hesitated before speaking, her voice a little softer than usual. “I know things are tense between us. But Dad… he’s not going to back down. He wants control of Starstream.”
Cordy’s eyes hardened, but she remained silent.
“I’m not on his side, Cordy,” Noel continued, her voice quieter now. “I don’t agree with what he’s doing. But I’m not sure I can stop him either.”
Cordy stood up from her desk, crossing the room to stand in front of Noel. She placed her hands on her hips, her expression unreadable. “Then why are you here?”
Noel met her gaze, her expression a mixture of guilt and determination. “Because I want to help. I don’t want you to fight this alone.”
Cordy paused, the weight of her sister’s words sinking in. She knew Noel had her own reservations about their father, but this was a side of her she hadn’t expected to see.
“Alright,” Cordy said finally. “We’ll need to work together if we’re going to win this. But make no mistake—I’m doing this on my terms. If you’re in, you’re in completely. No second-guessing.”
Noel nodded, a look of resolve settling on her face. “I’m in. We’ll do this together.”
As they locked eyes, Cordy couldn’t help but wonder what kind of storm they were about to weather together.