Chapter 1065Â
Sharon opened her inbox, and sure enough, there it was: Xavier’s detailed annotations.Â
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He had highlighted the three companies she’d shortlisted, analyzing each with precision. Even the ones she had dismissed were thoroughly broken down, their strengths and weaknesses clearly laid out.Â
The report was written in plain, accessible language, avoiding heavy jargon–as if he had deliberately tailored it for a beginner. Every line reflected his care and attentiveness.Â
It hadn’t been long since she’d called him for help. He must have dropped everything the moment he received her message to finish this so quickly.Â
Warmth welled up in her chest. “Xavier, thank you so much,” she said.Â
They both still had work to do, so the call ended shortly after.Â
At some point, Thomas had stopped flipping through the documents. Now, he stood utterly still, his dark eyes fixed on her. They were deep and still as an ancient well, carrying a quiet intensity that pressed subtly against her chest.Â
The smile on Sharon’s lips froze the instant she met his gaze.Â
“Thomas?” she asked cautiously. “What’s wrong?”Â
His long lashes lowered, concealing whatever flickered in his eyes.Â
“Nothing,” he replied, voice noticeably cooler than before. There was a faint edge to it–displeasure, though he didn’t say why.Â
Sharon hesitated, wanting to ask more, but Thomas had already lowered his head again, pretending to focus onÂ
the documents. 1Â
Ten minutes passed in silence. He finished reading, while Sharon immersed herself in Xavier’s notes.Â
She was so focused that she didn’t even notice when Thomas walked up behind her.Â
“Which company did Xavier recommend?”Â
Startled, she looked up and saw Thomas leaning slightly forward, his gaze falling on the open laptop before her.Â
Recovering quickly, she pointed to the screen. “This one.”Â
Thomas gave it a glance and said evenly, “His recommendation isn’t wrong, but it’s too conservative. No matter the company, without external momentum, there’s no way to achieve significant change in just one year.”Â
“Conservative?” Sharon echoed, turning toward him.Â
He nodded. “By conservative, I mean Xavier’s plan assumes a fair competition between you and Victoria. Under those terms, his choice is indeed the safest and most rational. But tell me, Sharon, do you really think they’ll compete with you fairly?”Â
Her breath caught.Â
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Chapter 1065Â
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Thomas went on, “You’re not like your three brothers. Their trials were meant to test their skills and methods. Yours is different.Â
“Because you and Victoria are entering the company at the same time, your roles will inevitably be compared. Even if you try not to compete, others in Kalen Group will compare you two.Â
“People are self–serving creatures–they gravitate toward benefit and shy away from risk. And between you and Victoria, everyone knows where the advantage lies.Â
“So if you can rise above Victoria, if you can step over her and prove yourself stronger, you’ll win the shareholders‘ support faster than anyone else ever could.”Â
Sharon stared at the screen, at the analysis
Sharon stared at the screen, at the analysis Xavier had painstakingly prepared. And suddenly, it all felt hollow, like information that no longer mattered.Â