Chapter 186

Victoria Kensington's sharp gaze locked onto Isabella Sinclair as she responded, "I understand."

She leaned forward slightly, her tone dripping with challenge. "In that case, Ms. Sinclair, would you care to enlighten me on the flaws in my proposal so I can make the necessary adjustments?"

Isabella saw through the trap immediately. This wasn't a genuine request—it was a test.

A slow, knowing smile curved her lips. "Ms. Kensington, identifying the weaknesses in your proposal is your responsibility, not mine. Do you honestly expect us to do your work for you?" She tilted her head, voice smooth as silk. "Let me remind you—we're under no obligation to partner with you. If you can't even pinpoint your own shortcomings, how can we trust you to meet our standards?"

Victoria stiffened. She had been certain Isabella would falter, either admitting ignorance or listing vague criticisms she could dismantle. Instead, Isabella had turned the tables, framing her as incompetent.

Keeping her composure, Victoria countered, "Ms. Sinclair, I believe you're misinterpreting my intentions. A successful partnership requires mutual effort. If there are issues, shouldn't we address them together?"

Isabella paused mid-sip of her tea, arching a brow. "Tell me, Ms. Kensington—is this your first business negotiation?"

Victoria frowned, caught off guard.

Isabella didn’t wait for an answer. "What you're suggesting—collaborative revisions—works in classrooms, not boardrooms. Business is about profit. If your proposal doesn’t serve our interests, why would we waste time fixing it when better options exist?"

Her tone was light, almost amused, but Victoria felt the sting beneath the words.

Isabella nudged the teacup toward her. "Try the tea, Ms. Kensington."

Victoria hesitated, but refusing would be a loss. She lifted the cup, murmuring, "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Across the room, Nathaniel Graves had been watching the exchange closely. He'd worried Victoria might outmaneuver Isabella, but to his surprise, Isabella had dismantled her effortlessly.

Once the meeting concluded and Victoria was escorted out, Nathaniel shot Isabella an impressed look. "That was masterful."

Isabella smirked. "I didn’t work at Whitmore Corporation for nothing."

Though she hadn’t handled major clients directly, years of navigating corporate politics had honed her instincts.

Nathaniel had forgotten that.

"So," he asked, "were there actually flaws in the Kensington proposal?"

"Yes."

The proposal was meticulous, the technical aspects flawless—likely Alexander Whitmore’s influence.

But in execution, something was just... off.