Before Ste could say a word, he hung up.


    ...


    Half an hourter, just as the meeting was about to begin, Aicken entered with a grave expression.


    "Ms. Cameron, it''s terrible news. Manager Crawford''s car was involved in a multi-car pile-up on his way back."


    Ste''s face paled, and she shot up from her seat. "What about Joshua? Is he okay?"


    Ste sometimes sent Joshua to pick up important contracts, and he had gone with Manager Crawford this time.


    Aicken said, "The details are still unclear, but it seems both Manager Crawford and Joshua were taken to the hospital."


    Ste grabbed her phone and dialed Joshua''s number, but it went straight to voicemail.


    Ste quickly checked the local real-time news and saw reports of a severe pile-up on the city''s main overpass. There were casualties.


    A knot of fear tightened in Ste''s chest. "Which hospital? I''m going to see them."


    Aicken hesitated. "But the board meeting is about to start. All the members are already here. If you don''t attend, Ms. Cameron, it won''t look good."


    A flicker of hesitation crossed Ste''s eyes, but it was gone in an instant.


    "Go inform my father and brothers that I have an urgent matter to attend to."


    Aicken looked troubled. "Ms. Cameron, why don''t I go to the hospital for you? I can update you as soon as I know anything."


    Ste paused for a moment. "Just do as I say. I''ll handle the fallout."


    Seeing her mind was made up, Aicken could only nod and leave.


    ...


    In the conference room, all the key members of the Williams Group had assembled. Besides Ste, Skyler Williams, the three Williams brothers, and Aurora were all


    present.


    A heavy silence hung in the air as everyone waited for Ste.


    After a moment, there was a knock on the door. Everyone looked up, expecting Ste, but it was her assistant, Aicken.


    He approached Skyler and said quietly, "President Williams, Ms. Cameron had an urgent mattere up and won''t be able to attend the meeting."


    Murmurs of displeasure spread through the room.


    "An urgent matter? What could possibly be more urgent than the state of the Williams Group right now?"


    "Aicken, do you know what this ''urgent matter'' is?"


    Aicken maintained a polite smile. As Ste''s assistant, he wouldn''t betray hef. "not entirely sure. I just saw leave in a hurry."


    Msn


    The situation at the Williams Group was dire. The data leak was unresolved, intercepted orders and failed investments had led to massive losses.


    Now, the media was running wild with the story about Ste, and under this multi-pronged attack, the Williamas Group''s stock had fallen even lower than it had during Aurora''s scandal.


    Shouldn''t Ste be prioritizing thepany and dealing with this mess?


    Just then, a shareholder sneered, "Her ''urgent matter'' wouldn''t be running to the


    hospital to see that pretty boy Joshua, would it?"


    "Ste''spletely bewitched by him... spending all her time fooling around instead of doing her job.


    If you ask me, I''ll bet that pretty boy is the one who leaked our corporate secrets!"