All Chapters of Trade Breaker: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

“Will you accompany me to the fashion event as my plus one?”“Do I have to? You know I hate these things.”“Yes, you have to come. It will be a great opportunity to meet some of the most influential people in the fashion world. It’s a must if Hale Enterprise wants to make it in the fashion world.”“That’s my mother, not me. Maybe you should have brought her with you.”“Hale Enterprise will be yours one day.”“It’s not what I want. I have my law firm to consider.”“What are you talking about? You’re already the CEO. Your mother said Hale’s Law was absorbed by the Hale Group months ago.”“That doesn’t matter. The ownership still belongs to me.”Dominic’s resentful glare bore a hole through her. She changed the subject back to whether or not he would accompany her.“Please come.”“If it stops you from bugging me, I’ll agree, but only for an hour.” he sighed, combed his hand through his hair, and then raised the cup of coffee to his lips before spitting it out.“What’s wrong?”“It's cold,

With a glass of freshly squeezed juice, Solo stepped out onto her balcony. The morning sunlight cast a warm glow on her skin, and the gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of jasmine from the nearby gardens. Since moving to Florence, she had made it a daily habit to enjoy breakfast on her balcony, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling city below.As she gazed at the fading sunrise and watched the city come to life, she took this time to clear her mind and focus on the important matters that would be waiting for her at work. The distant chirping of birds and faint chatter of people echoed in the background, creating a peaceful ambiance for Solo to collect her thoughts.As the breeze caressed her skin, her mind drifted back to the night of the event. It was cool then, too. The cool night air had been a welcome relief as she stepped out of the grand hall, her hand resting on her belly. What should have been a simple business event had felt like a lot more—it had been a test of

Solo ended the call between her and Sapphire, lips taut and fists clenched, frustrated by the woman’s gall. The woman was the epitome of rudeness—Solo was sure that if she looked up the word rudeness in the dictionary, Sapphire’s name would be highlighted in bold capital letters and between square brackets right next to it.Who the hell did this woman think she was? Exhaling a long breath and leaning back in her seat, rubbing her now evident baby bump, her memory drifted back to their first meeting.She could still see how Sapphire had swept into Inigo’s office the day after the investors' gathering. Every step she took was a performance of confidence and self-importance.Her entrance had been more akin to a grand arrival than a business meeting, and Solo had felt her presence—commanding and deliberate as if she were already the most important person in the room.It had been one of Solo’s first collaborative projects for the House of Ricci, a collaboration Inigo was excited about. She

Dominic paced the length of his office, frustration simmering after his latest conversation with Solaire Dale. He had offered every possible incentive, but she still declined, citing her commitments as immovable for the next three years. Despite his extensive experience in negotiations, her refusal gnawed at him more than he wanted to admit.The door to his office swung open, and his mother strode in with her characteristic air of elegance and command. She looked at her son and raised an eyebrow, reading his expression of frustration.“Well?” she asked, folding her hands in her lap as she sat in one of the leather chairs across from him. “What did she say?”Dominic sighed, lowering himself into his chair. “Mother, I finally managed to speak to her directly, and she still said no. She claims to have commitments for the next three years, and nothing I offered seemed to change her mind.” He said, grabbing a pen from his desk and starting to doodle on a document.Isabella’s lips thinned,

After leaving Dominic’s office, she returned to her own. Dominic had given her ample office space within his building to work from—that included a bedroom and washroom. She entered into the washroom with a single thought in mind. She needed to call Solaire and get her to accept the Hale's offer.Sapphire sat at her marble vanity, stared at her reflection, then adjusted her diamond earrings. The image staring back at her was every bit the poised, unshakeable figure she had crafted over the years.Today, her eyes had an edge, a flicker of impatience. She planned to bring Dominic back in check, and its execution revolved around a single person—Solaire Dale.She lifted her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she found Solaire’s number. The small victories she’d had so far with Solaire at the House of Ricci had encouraged her. After all, she was Sapphire Lin, director of the jewelry division at House of Lin and Hale Enterprises. She was also a Lin by name.With her influence and