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Vivienne was walking towards her office, lost in thought about the latest designs for her upcoming fashion line. As she passed by the park, she heard the sound of children's laughter and saw families enjoying the sunny day together. She felt a pang of nostalgia and sadness as she remembered her own family, who she had cut ties with.
Suddenly, she saw a group of children running towards her, and she stepped aside to let them pass. As she looked up, she saw the grand gates of the Sterling family mansion in the distance. The sight of the opulent estate reminded her that how she had gotten into a meddling relationship between her own and a privileged living person like Lucien Sterling.
As she continued walking, she saw a family enjoying a picnic on the grass, and the sight of their togetherness made her heartache. She remembered the last time she had seen her own parents, who had disapproved of her decision to start her own business and lead her own life. The memory was still painful, but she knew she had made the right choice.
With a sigh, she continued towards her office, steeling herself for another day of hard work and challenges. She reminded herself of the success she had achieved with Delacare Company and the loyal employees who had supported her every step of the way.
As she reached her office building, she looked up at the sign above the entrance and felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. She had built this company from the ground up, and nothing could take that away from her.
Little did she know, a new challenge was about to arise in the form of Nathaniel, the manipulative and ambitious villain who would stop at nothing to take over her business. But for now, Vivienne was lost in her own thoughts and memories, unaware of the storm that was brewing on the horizon.
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Vivienne had always been a black sheep in her family, the Delacroixs, who held strict traditions that only the male members of the family could enter the business sector. Her decision to start her own fashion company, Delacare, had been met with opposition and disdain from her family. Her parents, who had always been traditionalists, refused to support her and instead criticized her for going against their values.
Years had passed, and Vivienne had long since cut ties with her family. She had even lost touch with her mother and father, who had chosen to turn a blind eye to her success, as they could not accept the fact that a woman could run a successful business. Vivienne had built her company from scratch, working day and night to make it the success that it was today. However, she knew that her family would never accept her success, and she had made peace with that fact.
But Nathaniel had always been different from the rest of her family. He was the only one who had welcomed her decision to start her own company and had always been supportive of her ambitions. Nathaniel had always been her confidant and had even helped her secure her first major contract. But, little did Vivienne know, Nathaniel's support was only a façade.
One day, as Vivienne was going through her emails, she noticed an unusual message from Nathaniel. It was a meeting invitation to discuss a potential partnership between Delacare and Delacroix Industries. Vivienne was skeptical, but she decided to give Nathaniel the benefit of the doubt and agreed to the meeting.
Vivienne walked into the private room of the upscale café, greeted by Nathaniel and his parents. The air was heavy with tension, and Vivienne could feel the weight of their presence as soon as she stepped into the room.
Nathaniel wasted no time in getting straight to the point. "Vivienne, we have a proposition for you," he said, his voice cold and business-like.
Vivienne raised an eyebrow. "And what might that be?" she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
Nathaniel leaned forward, his eyes locked onto hers. "We want to buy out Delacare and merge it with Delacroix Industries."
Vivienne was taken aback by the proposal. She had expected Nathaniel to bring up the topic of a collaboration or partnership, not a full-on buyout. "I'm sorry, but that's not something I'm interested in," she replied firmly.
Nathaniel's face twisted into a sneer. "You don't seem to understand the potential here, Vivienne," he said condescendingly. "The fashion industry is a lucrative business, and we can't afford to miss out on this opportunity."
Vivienne felt her blood boil at Nathaniel's arrogant tone. "I understand perfectly well, Nathaniel. But Delacare is my company, and I've worked hard to build it into what it is today. I'm not willing to sell it to anyone, let alone my own family from whom I had cut ties long ago."
As Vivienne made her stance clear, Nathaniel's mother chimed in with a snide remark. "Well, well, well," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "It seems like someone is a little too attached to her company, don't you think?"
Vivienne turned to face Nathaniel's mother, her eyes narrowing. "Excuse me?" she replied, her voice cold.
Nathaniel's father cleared his throat, trying to diffuse the tension. "Now, now, let's all calm down," he said, his tone soothing. "We don't want to let this get out of hand."
But Nathaniel's mother wasn't finished yet. "Oh, come on, Harold," she said, rolling her eyes. "We all know that Delacare isn't exactly the most profitable company out there. It's not like Vivienne has anything to lose."
Vivienne felt her anger rise at the condescending tone of Nathaniel's mother. "My company is my livelihood, Mrs. Delacroix," she replied firmly. "I won't let anyone take that away from me."
Nathaniel's mother leaned back in her chair, her eyes glittering with amusement. "Oh, please," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "You're just a little fish in a big pond, Vivienne. You should be grateful that we're even considering a merger with your company."
Vivienne felt a surge of anger at Nathaniel's mother's words. She knew that Delacare was a small company compared to Delacroix Industries, but that didn't mean that it was any less important. She refused to let Nathaniel's family belittle her and her company.
Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, his expression turning dark. "You're making a mistake, Vivienne," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "If you don't sell your company, I'll make sure that Delacare falls completely and you'll lose everything in the end."
Vivienne was taken aback by Nathaniel's hostility. She had always trusted him, but now it was clear that he was willing to do whatever it took to get what he wanted.
She stood up from the table, her eyes locked onto Nathaniel's. "I won't let you destroy my company, Nathaniel," she said firmly. "I'll fight you every step of the way."
With that, Vivienne turned on her heel and left the café, leaving Nathaniel and his parents behind. She knew that the battle for Delacare had only just begun, but she was determined to protect her company and her reputation, no matter what it took.
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