Eleanor had been keeping a close eye on the uing conference—a


    roundtable hosted by several leading research institutes in the country. She nodded thoughtfully. "Alright. Let me make arrangements for my daughter, and we''ll attend together."


    Goodwin & Co.


    Rnd Yeaton was in a panic. News had just arrived that they were switching suppliers and ending their partnership with him, and he was desperate to speak to Ian Goodwin and salvage the deal. If he could just get a meeting, he was sure he could turn things around.


    Gavin,n''s assistant, appeared from the elevator lobby, spotting Rnd anxiously waiting in the lounge. With professional courtesy, Gavin approached. "Mr. Yeaton, I''m afraid Mr. Goodwin isn''t avable to see you right now. Pleasee back another day."


    Rnd''s heart sank. Wasn really going to let him sink without a lifeline?


    "I won''t take up much of Mr. Goodwin''s time-just ten minutes, that''s all I need." Rnd pleaded, certain that if he could just get in front ofn, he could convince him to help.


    Gavin maintained his polite smile but his tone was firm. "I''m sorry, Mr. Yeaton. Mr. Goodwin is busy. I have to ask you to leave."


    With nothing left to do, Rnd left the lobby of Goodwin & Co., sat in his car, and lit a cigarette with trembling hands before dialing his eldest daughter, Vanessa.


    "Hello, Dad?" Vanessa picked up instantly.


    "Vanessa, I need your help. I''m in trouble over here, and Mr. Goodwin won''t see me."


    "What? You went to seen?"


    "What''s wrong with that? Am I not allowed to talk to him?" Rnd snapped. As far as he was concerned,n was his future son-inw.


    "Dad, that''s not what I meant. Next time you want to see him, could you at least let me know first?" Vanessa tried to keep her voice calm.


    "Fine. Call him now. I have to see him today. No exceptions." Rnd pressed, hoping to leverage his daughter''s rtionship.


    “Dad, just calm down. I''ll call him and see if he has time."


    "Alright. But this is serious-he''s the only one who can help me."


    "Is this about the equipment supply issues?" Vanessa ventured.


    Rnd couldn''t hold back his frustration. "Yes! Jude Vaughn wants to cut off our partnership and put the contract back out to bid. I''ve sunk a fortune into this project—if it falls through, mypany''s finished."


    "Okay, Dad, just take a breath. I''ll talk ton and see what can be done," Vanessa reassured him.


    But instead of calling, Vanessa grabbed her bag and drove straight to Goodwin & Co.


    As a frequent visitor, Vanessa was well-known at the front desk; she didn''t need


    an appointment and was waved straight upstairs to the executive floor.


    Gavin was busy with paperwork when he looked up to see Vanessa striding purposefully toward him. He stood to greet her. "Ms. Shannon, what brings you here today?"


    "Isn in his office?"


    "He is, but..."


    Vanessa cut him off with a determined nce. "Assistant Young, I need to speak with him urgently. Could you let him know I''m here?"


    Gavin understood exactly where Vanessa stood inn''s priorities. He knocked onn''s office door, stepped inside, and reemerged less than a minuteter. “Mr. Goodwin will see you now, Ms. Shannon."


    Vanessa smiled, squared her shoulders, and entered the office.


    "Ian, about my dad''s situation-could you..." Vanessa didn''t bother with pleasantries; she got straight to the point.


    "I''ll assign him to another project. Go home and tell him to withdraw from theb contract. Don''t give Jude Vaughn any more trouble."n''s tone was cool but not unkind.


    Vanessa knew her father was in the wrong this time, andn''s willingness to offer another opportunity was more than generous.


    "Thank you,n." She gazed at his tall, elegant silhouette, her eyes filled with adoration.


    Setting her bag aside, she took a deep breath and walked slowly toward him.