Haynes asked, "What''s wrong? Is there a problem?"


    Ste snapped out of her thoughts. "No, it''s nothing. I just thought The Richards Group was having issues because of a cash flow problem."


    Haynes exined patiently, "A cash flow problem is actually the easiest kind to solve when apany''s in trouble.


    If it were just a matter of liquidity, The O''Brien Group could simply inject capital and help them through the rough patch."


    Ste pressed further, "But what if the gap in cash flow is huge?"


    "How huge are we talking?" Haynes replied.


    "What if it''s, say, fifty billion?" she ventured.


    Haynes chuckled softly at that.<fn29b5> Updates are released by FιndＮovel</fn29b5>


    "Are you thinking that because it was a bit of a scramble for us to pull together thirty-six billion for youst time, a shortfall as big as fifty billion would make it impossible for thepany to keep running if there''s a cash crisis?"


    Ste nodded lightly. "Isn''t that the case?"


    Haynes replied, "Yes-and no.


    You needed the money within three days. We couldn''t sell off our shares and bonds that quickly, so we couldn''t free up that much cash on such short notice.


    But dumping huge amounts of shares and bonds onto the market all at once would only trigger panic and send thepany''s stock price spiraling."


    He nced at Ste, who was listening with rapt attention, and a gentle smile flickered in his eyes.


    In an uncharacteristically reassuring tone, he said, "Star, you''ve only been learning about business for a few months. Of course you won''t be as seasoned as those of us who majored in it at university and have spent years in the field. Don''t worry about making mistakes-everyone makes them, me included. When I first joined The O''Brien Group, I made plenty of critical errors myself.


    But without those blunders, thepany never would have be what it is today.


    It''s only when you stumble that you learn the most important lessons.


    You''re smart, and you have natural talent.


    The only thing youck is experience.


    So don''t rush-trying to force things will just lead to more mistakes.


    If there''s anything you''re unsure about, or if you need help, just ask. I''ll do everything I can for you."


    Ste''s path was never going to be easy.


    She hadn''t grown up in the business world, and unlike Antoney, she didn''t have someone like Nicolle Watson and the entire Watson Group backing her up. All she had were people who seemed to hold her back.  s


    Men could rely on family, parents, friends, or even strategic marriages to gain resources—and no one questioned it. It was simply expected.


    But the moment a woman tried to use those same resources, people would say she was dependent, that she couldn''t stand on her own.


    As if epting help automatically made her incapable.


    Yet when Haynes and Foreman supported each other, no one batted an eye. It was just how things worked.


    Every one of them-Haynes, Neville, the Williams family-had grown up with every advantage, silver spoons in their mouths.


    They''d been surrounded by the best connections and resources from the start, and when they grew up, they had their family''spany to fall back on.  s


    Even when the Williams Group was in turmoil all those years ago, Nora still had to rely on it to invest.


    Ste, on the other hand, had


    nothing but the original shares that


    Nora left her. Her family and their


    business were in no position to support her-she was left to fight her battles alone.  s