Becoming Strangers Again by Lily

Chapter 72

RYAN

On the second day, we managed to successfully negotiate a settlement with the company whose design we were accused of stealing. We reached an agreement to keep the matter confidential, away from the prying eyes of the press and the public. which they agreed to uphold.

The issue here is that the already had the design on the process of registration before release, while we worked on release before registeration which is why before the law they are the rightful owners of the design.

Don't get me wrong, I am not accusing this Sophia girl of having stolen the design because YAEW company registered the product before us. The main issue is that during the period when the started the registration process and made necessary payment, Sarah was yet to submit the product.

Feeling tired and mentally drained, I pushed myself to plow through the mountain of work in front of me, hoping to at least grab a proper lunch since I hadn't had a decent meal since yesterday. Suddenly, my phone rang, interrupting my focus. Absently, I reached for it on the table and swiped to answer before placing the call on speakerphone to free up both hands. "Ryan Williams, I greeted, my attention split between the caller and the piles of files demanding my attention.

"What's happening, Ryan?" Lily's voice echoed through my office, instantly grabbing my full attention.

Startled, I tore my gaze away from the hardcopy file in my hand to focus on her words. "What do you mean?" I asked a sense of unease settling in the pit of my stomach.

"There are rumors swirling around the internet alleging that your company stole and reproduced a design from YAEW company," Lily informed me, her tone laced with concern.

My eyes widened in disbelief as I swiftly grabbed my tablet, desperate to verify the unfolding crisis. Simultaneously, the door to my office burst open, and Angelo rushed in, his expression grave. "The news is spreading like wildfire on the internet," he blurted out, thrusting a file towards me. "And they're suing us." His words hit me like a punch to the gut as I scanned the summon letter from the court that he brandished before me.

How could this be happening? Hadn't we agreed to keep this matter confidential and settle out of court? "Get Mr. Geo on the line," I instructed sharply, my frustration mounting. Angelo winced, delivering unwelcome news. "He's not taking our calls. They're all being transferred to their legal team."

Running a hand wearily down my face, I felt a surge of exhaustion wash over me. "I'll have to call you back, Lily," I muttered into the phone, abruptly ending the call before she could respond. "Get our legal team here," I commanded Angelo, steeling myself for the battle ahead.

As Angelo confirmed the impending arrival of our legal team, his phone rang, and he apologized before taking the call. Ignoring his distraction, I feverishly scrolled through my phone, searching for contacts who might assist me in this dire situation.

Angelo cleared his throat, drawing my attention. I looked up to find him shifting nervously on his feet. "What's the matter?" I asked wearily, feeling as though things couldn't possibly worsen any further.

before responding to my query. "Your father is in the elevator, on his way up to your office," he informed

clicked my tongue in frustration. "Of course he is," I muttered under my breath, resigned to the

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III

Chapter 22

me. "I entrustslibe company to you and this is how

of confidence, though I knew

skeptical. "This clearly looks like something you cannot handle. he countered, his disappointment

court?"

court, I can assure

but your reassurances mean nothing to me. The fact that the news is spreading like wildfire across the internet

"I've told you, I'm handling the situation. What

"What measures did you take to

Mr. Geo, and we reached an agreement not to escalate the issue publicly while we sought to settle the matter out of court,"

swift and vehement. He threw his hands up in exasperation. "You did what? You agreed to settle?" His disbelief

him to elaborate. "By agreeing to settle, you're essentially admitting to the crime," he explained sternly. "I'd wager every dollar I have that they've got a recording of you suggesting settlement outside of court as evidence of your guilt. By agreeing to your terms and agreeing to refrain from publicizing the issue, they effectively ensured that you would let your guard

didn't I consider that angle?" I cursed inwardly, berating myself for not seeing the situation from a strategic perspective. My focus had been solely on containing the news and shielding myself from the

is what you should have done," he asserted. "You should have taken the initiative to release the news to the public, despite your promise to YAEW. By doing so, you would have framed the narrative, casting them as the aggressors falsely accusing your company of theft. Instead, you find yourself in the unenviable position of being perceived as the perpetrator

I should have sought his counsel

He fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. "But did we really steal

can't believe you allowed something like this to happen. You

Lily into this," I cautioned him, unwilling to involve her

glare with a steely gaze of his own. "I never intended to," he retorted sharply. "I don't have the luxury of discussing individuals of little

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