Save Her Lose Us (Evangeline and Soren) novel Chapter 298

"Glenn built UME from the ground up," Theo continued, his voice heavy with emotion. "He's done things he hated for this company, things he never would have done for himself. UME is like his child. If he loses this bet…" He sighed and shook his head.

Evangeline's face paled. She bit her lip, her expression a mixture of shock and something else he couldn't quite read.

Thinking he had gotten through to her, Theo pressed on. "That's why we have to stop this. We'll pay the higher price for the manufacturer. We can import parts or find other partners. The most important thing right now is sales. We have to hit that target in six months. It's the only way Glenn can win."

But Evangeline shook her head. "What if Soren finds out about the bet and teams up with the foreign investors to put pressure on Glenn?"

Theo stared at her, caught off guard by her question.

"We wouldn't even last six months," she said, almost to herself. "Maybe not even three. Our supply chain would be crippled. UME wouldn't just fail to meet the target; our reputation would be destroyed. We have to move faster."

Theo frowned. "That's just a hypothetical. It might not happen. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"It's not a hypothetical," she insisted, her voice firm. "You don't know Soren, and you don't know this market. UME has an edge in technology right now, but once Fawkes Enterprises perfects its own smart robot, their resources will crush us. Not to mention all the other competitors that will flood the market. The longer we wait, the more vulnerable we become. We have to assume the worst-case scenario. It's the only way to minimize our losses and stay in control."

She picked up her pen again. "Building the factory will take one or two months. Another month to get it operational. That leaves us with two months to boost sales. By then, our costs will be lower…"

She quickly pulled up some data on her computer, her mind racing as she calculated costs and profits. After a moment, her fingers froze. Two months wasn't enough. The initial investment for the factory was too high. It would take at least a year to break even.

She gritted her teeth and ran the numbers again, this time without the factory's construction costs.

"It's enough," she said, her eyes lighting up. She pointed to the figure for the factory investment. "If we can cover this amount separately, we have a very good chance of winning the bet." She looked up at Theo. "I can find a way to get the money."

Evangeline gripped the pen in her hand, the plastic suddenly feeling hot against her skin. It felt less like a tool and more like a weapon. One wrong move, and it could be the thing that destroyed Glenn.

"I've told you everything," Theo said softly. "Whether you continue or stop is up to you."

He left her alone in the silent office. Evangeline leaned back in her chair, her mind in turmoil. After a moment, she picked up her phone and called Glenn. It went straight to voicemail. She didn't try again. She knew what he would say. He was betting on her, and he trusted her to win. The real question was, could she trust herself?

Just then, her phone rang. Thinking it was Glenn calling back, she answered immediately. But the voice on the other end was a woman's, and it was achingly familiar.

"Miss Whitmore. It's the matriarch. She's ill. Please, come to the hospital if you have time."