Chapter 270
With that, Ethan threw his napkin on the table and walked out.
Damon awkwardly excused himself and followed his brother.
Adrian shook his head in frustration. “I apologize you had to see that, Fiona. They’ve grown their wings and think they don’t have to listen to me anymore p>
“Oh, Chairman, you shouldn’t be so hard on them,” Fiona soothed with a warm smile. “Besides, you still have your darling Mara right here p>
“Mara has always been the sensible one.” Adrian looked at his daughter, his eyes softening with deep, unconditional affection.
“She’s incredibly sharp,” Fiona agreed smoothly. “With the right mentorship, she’ll become your greatest asset p>
Later that afternoon, Mira’s brewing exam ended in complete disaster.
She was confident she had perfectly controlled the temperature and timing, but Master Ellis ruthlessly failed her anyway.
“Master, I’m running three companies right now. Can’t you just let me pass?” Mira pleaded.
“If you’re too busy to put in the work, you’re too busy to study medicine,” he replied coldly.
“But I need the certification to legally handle the ingredients p>
“Nothing in this world comes for free, Mira. If you don’t bleed for the craft, you don’t master it p>
“Fine. I’ll practice harder,” Mira sighed in defeat.
She grabbed her coat and was heading out with the Iron Wolves when she ran into Owen returning from the office.
“So, did you get your Intermediate Apothecary certificate?” he asked with a knowing smirk.
‘Failed,’ Master Ellis answered for her as Mira refused to look at him p>
“Hahaha!” Owen burst into laughter. “Finally! There is actually something you can’t conquer on the first try p>
“Keep laughing,” Mira shot back, glaring at him. “When I finally master this, don’t come begging me for medicine p>
“Okay, okay, I yield. I’m not laughing anymore,” Owen chuckled, raising his hands in surrender.
Mira ignored him and stormed out into the crisp winter air.
On the drive back, Harvey called her.
“Mira, thank you for the warning,” Harvey said, his voice laced with adrenaline. “I narrowly dodged a bullet today. The second I closed my position, Porter suspended their stock. If I had waited even ten minutes, I would have been locked in p>
“I’ve never respected anyone in my life,” he continued earnestly. “Not even my own parents. But I respect you. I want to follow your lead from now on p>
Mira laughed softly. “A few months ago, you were trying to make me your fiancé. Now you want to work for me p>
“It’s not that I don’t want to date you, it’s that I know I don’t deserve to. You’re operating on a god-tier level and I’m just a guy who’s decently smart My new goal is to study hard, get into the same university as you, and learn everything I can from watching you operate p>
“Self-awareness is a rare trait, Harvey. I respect that,” Mira replied. “But becoming my ally isn’t that simple. Cut every single business tie the Rivers Group has with Porter Entertainment. Consider it a show of loyalty p>
“It’s not that I won’t do it, it’s that I can’t. My dad holds absolute power over the Rivers Group. Until the old man gives the green light, my hands are tied But thanks to this massive payout, have enough I tabto
start my own business. I’ll be the
sole decision-maker. If you ever
need anything, just say the word. I
swear I’ll never betray you p>
“We’ll see,” Mira replied noncommittally.
But truthfully, she had a great impression of Harvey. He was brilliant, socially adept,
relentlessly ambitious, and undeniably loyal.
As her empire expanded, she was
going to need ruthless, capable
lieutenants. Liora Bennett and Celine Ward were wonderful friends,
they lacked the killer instinct
required for high-stakes corporate
warfare. Harvey, however, was a
prÃme candidate.
It took Mira four grueling, relentless days of practice before she finally satisfied Master Ellis and earned her Intermediate Apothecary certification.
Holding the hard-earned document, she realized that once she left Melvion City for university, she wouldn’t have her master’s daily guidance.
“Master, when I leave for college, you should come with me,” Mira suggested.
“I’m deeply rooted here. I have no desire to pack up and move to a new city,” he replied dismissively. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it p>
The end of the year was rapidly approaching.
The revenue across all her companies was staggering, but it had come at the cost of brutal overtime.
The artists and managers at Solflare Entertainment, the regional directors at EcoRide, and the tireless staff at Solflare Hearth & Grill had practically lived at work for the past month.
To reward them, Mira issued a company-wide mandate: every single employee would receive a fifteen-day paid vacation. Anyone who volunteered to keep operations running during the holidays would receive triple their standard pay.