She regrets her actions and makes up her mind to make sure, they were chosen by Barclays, no matter what it takes...as long as it didn't involve Aaron.
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After the meeting, Lana is left alone with her father in the Conference Room. She has always wanted to apologize but couldn't bring herself down to do that in front of her workers and Aaron.
"Dad, I'm sorry" She began calmly. "I know I messed things up with that bid, but I can recover everything if you just allow me without interference". She said stressing the last part.
"I thought you were genuinely apologizing, but you're just showing your arrogance". Mr. Steve replied rather unfazed by her insincere apology.
"This isn't about him" Lana tries to defend herself.
"This isn't about you either" Mr. Steve said, shooting Lana a very stain look which shook her. Never has her father looked that Strict and serious with her.
"This is about Double-Lake. So every decision from now has to be made for Double-Lake and not myself or any individual". Mr. Steve says and wheels closer to Lana who is still standing, shocked by her father's sudden switch. He has always been a calm and pampering man until today, "that bid really must hurt him", Lana thought within her thoughts.
"Look, Lana. Now is the time for you to shine and show that you are the most powerful woman in this part of the world. I'm not mad at you but I'm disappointed. I expect much better from you." Mr. Steve voiced his disappointment.
"I... I'm..." Lana tries to speak.
"You don't have to say anything, just get this whole Barclays thing settled. Then, I'll be at home if you want to say anything." Mr. Steve finishes and leaves the conference room, leaving Lana to ponder what to do next.
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Lana felt a heavy weight of responsibility and a deep sense of regret as she watched her father leave the conference room. She knew she had to make things right, not just for herself, but for Double-Lake. With determination in her heart, she took a deep breath and began devising a plan to salvage the Barclays bid.
Aaron ponders in his new and well furnished office thinking if he had just jumped into a burning furnace. If he had known about the Barclays bid, he sure would have rejected the offer. But he's found himself here and immediately tasked with getting the deal with Barclays over with.
"The Chairman requests to see you". Sarah sounded out to Aaron who was sitting in his new office, feeling the pressure of the situation. He couldn't help but wonder if he had made a hasty decision by accepting the role. The unexpected request to meet with the Chairman added to his unease. With a sigh, he replied to Sarah, "Tell the Chairman I'll be there shortly."
As Aaron made his way to meet with the Chairman, he couldn't shake the feeling that this Barclays deal was going to be more challenging than he had ever imagined.
Aaron sat across from Mr. Steve in the Chairman's office, the tension palpable. Mr. Steve leaned forward, his gaze piercing, as he began, "Aaron, I know this is a challenging situation, but I have faith in your abilities. We need to secure the Barclays deal, and I believe you're the right person for the job. Lana will be working on this too, but I want both of you to set aside your personal differences and focus on the company's success."
Aaron nodded, his determination shining through his apprehension. "I'm committed to doing whatever it takes to make this deal happen, Mr. Steve," he replied.
Mr. Steve's expression softened slightly, and he continued, "This isn't just about business, Aaron. It's about the legacy of Double-Lake, a company I've worked my whole life to build. I want to see it thrive, and I believe you and Lana can make that happen if you work together."
Aaron understood the gravity of the situation. "I'll do my best, Mr. Steve. Lana and I will put our differences aside and focus on the company's success."
Mr. Steve nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. "Good. Remember, this is about Double-Lake, not just us. Now, I expect regular updates on your progress. We can't afford any more setbacks."
With that, Aaron left the Chairman's office with a renewed sense of purpose. He knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but he was determined to prove himself and protect Double-Lake's legacy, just as Mr. Steve had entrusted him to do.
After leaving the Chairman's office, Aaron returned to his own office, his thoughts consumed by the challenging task ahead. As he entered, he was surprised to find Lana waiting there, a scowl on her face. She had been informed of the meeting with Mr. Steve and had come with a sense of reluctance to discuss their strategy for the Barclays deal.
Lana looked at Aaron with a cold, almost hostile expression. "Aaron," she said with a touch of bitterness, "I heard what my father said in there, but don't think for a second that this is going to work with you. I'll appreciate if you let me handle this alone"
Aaron, equally resentful, nodded curtly. "Sorry, Lana, but I already gave the Chairman my word, and I won't go back on it. He said and proceeded to add more salt to Lana's growing wound, "I'm here for the company's sake, not because I want to be."
The tension between Aaron and Lana was palpable as they stood face to face in his office. Lana's scowl deepened, and her voice grew even colder as she retorted, "Fine, Aaron. We'll work together, but don't expect any help from me. I'll handle this my way, and you can do it your way."
Aaron couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction as he sensed Lana's frustration. He was equally determined to prove himself, and the competitive atmosphere between them was a driving force. "That suits me just fine, Lana," he replied, his tone matching hers, "We'll see who can get the job done."
"I'm not competing with you, I'm doing this for my father and his legacy". Lana retorted trying to force Aaron to feel guilty.
Aaron who quickly sensed and understood what she was trying to do, gave a smirk and responded mockingly. "That should make you feel better".
Lana's attempt to shift the focus to her father and the legacy of Double-Lake didn't deter Aaron. Instead, it only fueled the rivalry between them. He leaned in closer, his smirk unwavering. "Oh, Lana, I'm well aware of your reasons," he taunted, "But it won't change the fact that we're in this together now. Let's just get through it."
Lana clenched her fists, her determination unshaken. She had hoped to guilt-trip Aaron into submission, but it seemed he was just as stubborn as she was. With a steely resolve, she responded, "Fine, Aaron. We'll work together for Double-Lake's sake. But don't think for a second that I'll go easy on you."
Their exchange left no doubt that their collaboration would be far from smooth, and the competitive edge between them only deepened. Little did they know that their journey would take unexpected turns, testing not only their abilities but also their growing attraction to each other.
Their exchange was filled with bitterness and a mutual desire to outperform each other. Little did they know that their initial animosity would give way to something much more complicated as they embarked on the challenging journey of securing the Barclays deal.
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