N paused and turned to look at Emerald. "What is it?"


    "I heard Robin went to see you today," Emerald said.


    "Yeah. What about it?" N responded.


    Emerald pressed her lips together before speaking sternly. "He''s Kajer''s second-rgest shareholder and the head of R&D. Try not to offend him. If he approaches you, avoid conflict."


    N found this amusing. "You should be telling him that. I didn''t even know who he was until today. He''s the one who came looking for trouble."


    "I don''t care. Just don''t provoke him," Emerald repeated.


    Seeing Emerald''s cold expression, N lowered her gaze and spoke evenly. "That''s not happening. I won''t go looking for a fight, but I''m not just going to sit there and take it if hees after me."


    Emerald frowned. "I didn''t put you in thatpany to make enemies."


    "Oh, so you put me there to be a punching bag?" N retorted.


    Emerald fell silent, and an awkward tension settled between them.


    Finally, Filipe spoke up. "Madam, your next meeting is about to start."


    Emerald withdrew her gaze, stood, and said, "Bring my dinner to my study."


    "Yes, Madam," Filipe replied.


    Once she left, Filipe turned to N. "Ms. Kinsey, Madam isn''t the type to respond well to confrontation. If you softened your tone with her once in a while, maybe things wouldn''t always be so tense between you two."


    N pursed her lips. "Well, I''m not the type to back down either. And why should I be the one topromise?"


    Filipe sighed. "Madam''s spent so many years making decisions on her own that it''s second nature to her. But the truth is, your rtionship doesn''t have to be this hostile."


    At the heart of it, Emerald and N were too alike. That''s why they could never have a peaceful conversation.


    If N could soften up and act more docile like Delia, maybe her rtionship with Emerald would improve over time. Maybe, one day," they''d even have a normal


    mother-daughter bond.


    "You should tell her that," N said tly. "I have no interest in fixing things with her."


    For the next two weeks, Emerald was constantly busy, leaving early in the morning and returningte at night. She and N barely crossed paths.


    At the end of those two weeks, N''s office renovation was finallyplete. She moved out of the small conference room and back into her own space.


    Looking at the bright, modern design, she couldn''t help but smile.


    Working in this environment


    instantly put her in a better mood


    aesthetold ck, white, and gray


    aesthetic had always made her feel suffocated the moment she stepped inside.


    "Ms. Kinsey, if there''s anything you''re not satisfied with, we can still make changes," Jenny said.


    N shook her head. "No need. It''s perfect as it is."


    "Alright. I''ll leave you to it. Let me know if you need anything," Jenny excused herself.


    After Jenny left, N sat down at her desk and casually flipped through a file.


    Over the past two weeks, she had learned enough to spot basic contract issues. Now, Jenny had started giving her moreplex documents to handle.


    ...


    That evening, N returned to the estate as usual.


    The moment she stepped inside, though, she sensed something was off.


    Normally, she would hear the service staff chatting as they worked. But tonight, the entire house was eerily silent.


    They kept their heads down, quietly going about their tasks, not saying a word to one another.


    Lowering her gaze, N silently made her way toward her room. Just as she reached the corner, Filipe called out to her.