Chapter 196
Chapter 196:
Juliet’s stare was glacial, her words clipped and final. “That won’t be happening. At Pinnacle Jewelry, our designers don’t lose their jobs because some outsider demands it p>
Sadie blinked, clearly not expecting resistance from Juliet of all people. Her temper flared hot and fast. “Do you even know who you’re standing against? I’m Mike Knight’s wife! The wealthiest man in Zhatwell! One lowly designer? Gone with a snap! You really want to cross us over this woman p>
The moment those words left her mouth, a voice drifted lazily from the doorway, laced with sarcasm.
“And who exactly thinks they can fire one of my employees p>
Every head in the room turned. Simon leaned against the doorframe like he owned the air itself, hands shoved into his pockets, wearing a crooked grin that carried nothing but mischief.
“Mr. Morgan!” Juliet and the design team greeted in unison.
Sadie faltered, momentarily thrown off. He looked far too young and far too casual to be standing at the helm of anything important. But she quickly recovered, straightening up with the air of someone older and wiser.
“So, you’re the one in charge?” she said smoothly. “Good. Then you’ve heard everything. Your employee insulted me first, but out of generosity, I’m willing to let that slide. If you do as I ask and dismiss Sophie, the Knight Group will consider this incident forgotten. In fact, we could even put Pinnacle Jewelry at the top of our list for upcoming projects. But if not p>
Simon’s brow ticked upward. “If not, what? You’ll bury us? Run Pinnacle Jewelry out of Zhatwell p>
Sadie’s chin lifted proudly. “At least you understand the stakes p>
He folded his arms, his smirk widening. “Oh, terrifying. I’m shaking already p>
𝗦𝘵𝗈𝗋𝗶𝘦𝘀 yо𝗎 𝗐о𝗻’𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘁 do𝘄ո on
“You—” Rage choked her words. No one had ever dared speak to her like this. “You’re insulting the Knight Group itself p>
“How could I ever dare?” Simon answered, his tone thick with mock politeness. The look alone was enough to make Sadie burn inside, with nowhere to vent her anger.
Keeping his calm, he went on, “The thing is, this isn’t my call to make. I’ll have to check in with Mr. Knight first p>
A tiny, involuntary hitch stirred in Sadie’s chest. “Who? Aren’t you the one running Pinnacle Jewelry p>
Pulling his phone from his pocket, Simon shot her a sidelong glance. “Of course not. I’m only handling things on the ground. For decisions like this, I report directly to the one running the Pinnacle Group p>
Sadie’s blood ran cold. “What did you say p>
But it was too late. Simon had already dialed, and the moment the line clicked, his whole demeanor shifted—professional and crisp.
“Mr. Knight,” he said firmly. “Here’s the situation. The wife of the Knight Group’s chairman is here at Pinnacle Jewelry, causing a scene. She framed our designer, Sophie, and when exposed, refused accountability. Now she’s threatening to blacklist our company unless we fire Sophie. She claims the Knight Group will drive us out of Zhatwell entirely. How would you like me to proceed? Yes. Understood p>
The moment she realized who was on the other end of the line, Sadie sagged into a chair, weak and trembling.
When he ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket, she whispered, “What… what did he say p>
Simon’s eyes sharpened as he delivered the message word by word. “Mr. Knight has decreed that, effective immediately, the Pinnacle Group and all its subsidiaries will sever every business tie with the Knight Group and its affiliates. They are to be added to a permanent blacklist p>
Sadie went pale. She was doomed.
With a mere gesture from Simon, two towering security guards moved in. They grabbed her by the arms and escorted her out. Her once-perfectly styled hair hung in chaos around her face, and her carefully curated elegance had evaporated. Now she looked like a woman unmoored, untethered.
She stumbled into her car in a panic, heading home, every turn of the wheel echoing the relentless loop of Simon’s words in her mind.
She had made an irredeemable mistake.
Although Mike had always kept her away from company matters, he had specifically mentioned in their last conversation that he was trying to secure a partnership with the Pinnacle Group. Even someone as out-of-the-loop as her could sense the sheer weight of that name.
The Pinnacle Group wasn’t just any company. It was a massive multinational, ranked among the top hundred in the world. In comparison, the Knight Group was just the top firm in a city. How could it even compete?
She had assumed Pinnacle Jewelry was a minor, easily intimidated subsidiary. She never imagined it would escalate all the way to the founder at headquarters—the very person she had now enraged.
The consequences were about to crash down on her. Mike would hear the news soon. And when he did, her comfortable life, the world she had taken for granted, was about to shatter completely.