Ava returned to her office, a brown paper bag swinging from her hand, the aroma of grilled chicken and roasted vegetables filling the air. She'd felt a pang of sympathy for Sarah, witnessing the harsh reprimand from Liam. It wasn't right, she thought, to berate an employee like that, especially in public. She hoped Sarah was okay.Pushing open the door to her office, she called out, "Sarah, I brought you back some—"But her words died in her throat. Sarah wasn't there. Ava frowned, placing the bag on her desk. Where had she gone? Had she been so upset that she'd left the office altogether? A wave of concern washed over Ava. She couldn't let Sarah deal with this alone.Just then, the door to Liam Blackwood's office opened, and Sarah emerged, her eyes red-rimmed, her face pale. Ava rushed towards her, her concern evident."Sarah, are you alright? That was awful! What did he say? Is everything okay?"Sarah, struggling to contain a bubble of laughter threatening to erupt, sniffled dramatically and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. "He... he was furious," she choked out, her voice trembling. "The Henderson deal... I messed it up... he shouted at me..."Ava's anger flared. "That's no excuse for his behavior! It was completely unprofessional, humiliating you like that."She pulled Sarah into a hug, offering comfort and support. "Don't worry, Sarah. You're brilliant at what you do. Everyone makes mistakes. I'll talk to him, give him a piece of my mind."Sarah, her shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter, pulled away, "No, Ava, it's okay. It's... it's my fault. I need to be more careful."Ava, misinterpreting Sarah's suppressed mirth for sorrow, felt a surge of protectiveness. "Don't blame yourself, Sarah. He was out of line. Here, have some lunch. You must be starving."She handed Sarah the paper bag, but Sarah, who had just enjoyed a three-course meal courtesy of Liam, politely declined. "No, thank you, Ava. I'm not really hungry."Ava frowned, her concern deepening. "Sarah, you need to eat. You're pale, you're shaking... please, just try a little."Sarah, feeling increasingly guilty for deceiving Ava, insisted she couldn't eat a bite. Ava, convinced that Sarah was drowning in sorrow, decided to take matters into her own hands. She pulled out her phone, her thumb hovering over Liam Blackwood's contact. She'd blocked him after their initial encounter, but now, fueled by a righteous anger, she unblocked him and typed out a furious message."Mr. Blackwood," she wrote, her fingers flying across the screen, "it was completely unacceptable to yell at Sarah the way you did. It was unprofessional, demeaning, and frankly, bullying behavior. I won't tolerate that kind of treatment towards anyone on my team, especially not Sarah. Until you learn to control your temper and treat your employees with respect, I refuse to work with you on the Phoenix project."She hit send, feeling a sense of satisfaction mixed with trepidation. She'd stood up to Liam Blackwood, the powerful tycoon, the man who held her professional future in her hands. She'd risked it all to defend Sarah, to stand up for what was right.A wave of nausea suddenly washed over Sarah. Ava's message was passionate, fierce, and completely misguided. She had to stop this, tell Ava the truth. But before she could utter a word, her phone chimed with a new message. It was from Liam, and attached was a screenshot of Ava's fiery text.Sarah's eyes widened as she read the message. Liam, the master manipulator, had anticipated this. He was playing them both like pawns in his twisted game. She felt a surge of anger, a desire to confront him, to expose his deception. But then, she saw the amusement twinkling in his eyes, the playful challenge in his smile. He was enjoying this, reveling in the chaos he'd created.And despite herself, Sarah couldn't help but be drawn into the game. It was thrilling, dangerous, and utterly captivating."Ava," she began, her voice hesitant, "there's something you need to know..."She paused, leaving Ava hanging on her every word, the truth hovering on the tip of her tongue. But then, a mischievous grin spread across Sarah's face."Actually," she said, changing her mind, "it can wait. We have a project to discuss, don't we?"Ava, her curiosity piqued but her focus unwavering, nodded in agreement. "You're right. Phoenix awaits."And with that, they plunged back into the world of algorithms and data analysis, the secret of Liam's charade hanging heavy in the air, an unspoken truth that threatened to disrupt the delicate balance of their newfound partnership.