59 Business Moves and Hidden Agendas

Emma understood Warren's commitment. His parents' tragic death in a poorly constructed house instilled in him a resolve to prevent similar disasters. She trusted him implicitly. "I trust you with this project. Just don't let me down," Emma said encouragingly. Warren's relief was palpable, but Emma had another question. "I heard you were approached by a tech company recently. If we move into tech, whom would you choose to partner with?" Emma knew about this because Alex's company, known for their shrewd business tactics, was the one interested in collaborating with Warren. She was curious about Warren's choice in this scenario. Warren sensed the underlying challenge in Emma's question. Choosing his words carefully, he said, "We believe in fair competition. If the Smirnoffs offer a better partnership, it would be hard to refuse." Internally, Warren knew his loyalty lay with Emma. There was no real competition in his mind. Emma smiled, pleased with Warren's response. "Go