Chapter 480

Olivia Sinclair's lips curved into a feline smile as she regarded the elderly woman before her. "Miss Kensington," she murmured, her voice dripping with honeyed warmth, "Your wisdom is precisely why I need you. Though time may have silvered your hair, it's sharpened your mind like a well-honed blade."

Beatrice Whitmore adjusted her spectacles, the gold frames catching the light. "My dear, at my age, one wrong move could topple your carefully constructed house of cards. Are you certain this old fox still has the cunning you require?"

Olivia's eyes sparkled with unspoken schemes. "Darling Beatrice, if events unfold as we've planned, we'll vanish like morning mist. No one will suspect a thing." She reached out to squeeze the older woman's hand. "There's no one I trust more for this delicate matter."

Evelyn Whitmore fidgeted nervously nearby, her fingers twisting the fabric of her skirt. "Miss Sinclair, please - let me handle this instead. Beatrice shouldn't—"

"Child," Beatrice cut in with a fond but firm tone, "Stay with Olivia where you're needed. This old bones still have some fight left in them." She winked conspiratorially at Olivia.

Evelyn opened her mouth like a fish gasping for air, then closed it again at Olivia's subtle headshake. The younger woman placed a reassuring hand on Evelyn's shoulder, the silent gesture speaking volumes.

As Beatrice departed with purposeful strides, Olivia's expression transformed. The warmth drained from her face, leaving behind the calculating sharpness of a winter's gale. "Evelyn," she said, each word measured and precise, "This is your moment to unleash the lioness I know lurks beneath that demure exterior. Win this competition, and you'll carve both your name and Sinclair Enterprises into history books."

She leaned closer, her perfume wrapping around them like an invisible cloak. "Understand this - my generosity isn't charity. I invest only in those who prove their worth. Do we have an understanding?"

Evelyn's spine straightened, her chin lifting with newfound determination. "You won't regret giving me this opportunity. I'll move heaven and earth to succeed."

In the frenzied days leading to the competition, Olivia became a whirlwind of activity, dividing her time between corporate battles and personal obligations. Sinclair Enterprises teetered on a precipice - its reputation in tatters, its financial arteries hemorrhaging funds.

Just as Olivia contemplated the risks of a potentially ruinous venture, her phone buzzed with unexpected hope. The director's voice crackled through the receiver. "We've got interest from a major client, but he's hesitant to sign. Wants to meet you personally first. Probably heard the rumors. This could be our lifeline."

Fatigue momentarily lifted from Olivia's shoulders as hope flickered to life. "Perfect. Schedule it for tonight. Pull out all the stops - I want this man eating out of our hands by dessert."

The director hesitated. "Miss Sinclair, with all due respect... morale is crumbling. Resignations are piling up. I'm barely keeping my head above water."

Olivia exhaled slowly, weighing her words. "You've been our rock during this storm. Stay the course, and when we emerge victorious, your loyalty won't be forgotten."

The director's voice warmed with gratitude. "Thank you." After hanging up, contact details for the client's assistant appeared on Olivia's screen.

She'd worried her direct approach might seem too transparent, but Benjamin Wright agreed to meet with surprising eagerness. With the appointment secured, Olivia rushed home to change into something that balanced professional polish with subtle allure.

Thirty minutes before their reservation, Olivia arrived at the exclusive restaurant. A waiter guided her through dimly lit corridors to a private dining room. As the door swung open, a thick cloud of cigar smoke assaulted her senses.

Olivia's nose wrinkled imperceptibly as she forced a gracious smile. "Mr. Wright? Olivia Sinclair. A pleasure to finally meet the man behind those intriguing emails."