Evangeline agreed and immediately called the manufacturing nt. The manager there readily epted the increased production volume. But when she arrived at the office and sent over the official contract, he changed his tune.


    "I''m sorry, we can''t handle that volume. We''d need to add at least two more production lines to meet that demand."


    Evangeline did a quick calction. A portion of UME''s manufacturing was still done overseas. If they were serious about expanding their domestic presence, they would eventually need to move all production here. Adding a new line was inevitable. After a quick discussion with Theo, she informed the manufacturer that UME would cover half the cost of the expansion.


    But the manager came back with a new demand: UME had to cover the full cost, plus allbor expenses. On top of that, the production cost per unit would increase by one percent. It sounded small, but with their volume, it would be a significant sum. If they didn''t agree, they would have to stick to their original, much smaller contract.


    Theo mmed his fist on the table. "This is outrageous! They''re holding us hostage!"


    Something felt wrong to Evangeline. With UME''s current poprity, manufacturers should be fighting for their business. This felt like they were being pushed to break the contract. She called Finn and asked him to look into it.


    He called back in less than ten minutes. "The owner of the nt had a meeting with Soren this morning."


    Of course. Soren wouldn''t just attack their sales; he would go for the source.


    "What''s your next move?" Finn asked.


    Evangeline felt a wave of frustration. She had thought changing their market would be enough to escape Soren''s interference but she hadnt. anticipated him cutting them off at the supply chain. They wereopletely on the defensive.


    Finn must have sensed her despair. "I can rmend a few reliable, manufacturers," "he offered. "They''re backed by the Lockridge family, so they won''t be swayed by Soren."


    As an investor in UME, Finn had a vested interest in their sess. She trusted his rmendations. She got the contact information from him and found that their quotes were five to ten percent higher than their previous partner''s. She knew this was within the normal range, but the feeling of being dependent on others, of being controlled, left a bitter taste in her mouth.


    After some thought, she called Glenn. He listened quietly, as he always did.


    When she was finished, he said calmly, "Maybe it''s time we built our own factory. Take control of our own destiny."


    Evangeline froze. His words cut through her frustration, and she realized, with a jolt, that this was exactly what she had been thinking, what she had needed to hear.


    "Evangeline, I trust your instincts, and I support your decision," he said. "You have my full approval to move forward with this."