Hearing my words, Alex finally lowered his gaze and flipped through the proposal in his hands.


    "Compared to the Schneider family''s offer, Lucas is being quite sincere. And with him, you don''t have to sacrifice your body," I said matter-of-factly. "Or your marriage."


    "The gemstones mined from the quarry will be avable for Hastings Group to select first?" Alex stroked his chin and nodded slightly.


    Hastings Group''s jewelry business specialized in high-end designs, and when it came to polymeric materials, there was never such a thing as too much supply.


    "Mr. Hastings, isn''t this just a trivial benefit? Are you really going to ept such a perfunctory offer?" A sharp female voice rang out from the doorway.


    I looked up, only to see Xena forcing her way in despite the attempts to stop her.


    "If you choose to coborate with me, I won''t just offer priority gemstone selection. I''ll also provide a 1% discount on polymeric materials," she dered firmly, though her eyes held an unmistakable tinge of reluctance.


    Businesspeople were inherently shrewd, and for Xena to willingly cut into her own profits to win over Alex, she was truly pulling out all the stops.


    "I''ve already prepared a proposal. Mr. Hastings, please take a look." She stepped forward and handed over the document.


    Alex took it, and I couldn''t resist peeking at it as well.


    "For the past few years, Hastings Group has been moving into the technology sector. Your biggestpetitor on this path is none other than Schneider Group. I can guarantee that if I take control of Schneider Group, we won''t develop high- tech products for the next three years."


    With this, Lucas'' advantage was all but wiped out.


    "No high-tech development?" Robert frowned in surprise. "But high-tech products are Schneider Group''s gship. Ms. Schneider, don''t you think this decision is a bit... extreme?"


    Several other shareholders nodded in agreement, clearly skeptical of Xena''s bold im.


    She merely chuckled. "High-tech products may be Schneider Group''s signature, but they''re not mine. My n is to steer Schneider Group into the cosmetics industry."


    She continued to reveal her strategy,


    one move after another. On the


    video call, the shareholders nodded along Although they still had


    reservations, the immediate benefits were undeniably tempting


    I let out a shortugh and raised an eyebrow. "Ms. Schneider, are you looking


    down on Hastings Group?"


    "What gives you the right to speak here?" she retorted with open disdain.


    As expected, the shareholders who had been ready to approve her proposal hesitated, holding back their decisions.


    Alex calmly ced the document down. "Serena is the head office assistant, and she has been overseeing the negotiations with Schneider Group. Of course, she has the right to voice her opinions."


    Xena gritted her teeth in frustration, but I ignored her re. "Hastings Group might be a new yer in the high-tech sector, but we''ve already made significant progress, even standing on equal footing with Schneider Group.


    "And yet, Ms. Schneider is proposing to withdraw from this market? Is this truly in Hastings Group''s best interest? No, this is an insult to Hastings Group."


    Several shareholders nodded in agreement, and Robert also spoke up. "Serena has a point."


    "Take Ms. Schneider outside," Alex said, looking at me. "We need to continue our meeting."


    The Schneider family had ess to Hastings Group''s recent research data, and the leak was undeniably linked to Xena. As I turned to leave, I was worried that Alex might impulsively agree to her proposal.


    So, I mouthed a few words to him, "R&D department mole."


    After he gave an almost imperceptible nod, I turned and walked out.


    "Alex." Xena''s voice was soft, half-serious and half-coquettish. "I acted impulsively just now, but everything stated in the proposal is something Schneider Group can fulfill."