ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SEVEN

ALICE'S POV

I sat across from Konrad in the dimly lit room of his office. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and the air seemed to vibrate with the weight of our high-stakes negotiation. Konrad, with his sharp features and authoritative presence, looked at me with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. His gaze was intense, almost like it could cut through any pretense.

“Why would you do something like this for me and my company?” Konrad asked, his voice measured but clearly skeptical. “You’ve always been a greedy bastard. Why would you share a piece of the Lockwood pie with us?”

I smirked, keeping my expression cool and calculated despite the swirl of thoughts in my head. “Oh, I’m still a greedy bastard, Konrad. Don’t get me wrong. But this isn’t about altruism or some sudden change of heart. This is about creating a situation where we all win.”

I leaned back in my chair, tapping lightly on the armrests. “Think of it as a strategic move. You’re getting a significant stake in Lockwood,