Chapter 179: Market Tensions

Simon’s eyes narrowed as he spotted Phoebe approaching, her confident stride exuding an air of authority. She greeted him with a bright, almost challenging smile, but Simon turned away, deliberately avoiding acknowledging her. His dislike for Phoebe was palpable, and he made no effort to hide it. Nearby, Phoebe's teammate, Mark, bore the brunt of her simmering frustration. “Mark, can’t you even manage a simple task without screwing it up?” Phoebe snapped, her voice sharp and cutting. Mark sighed internally, feeling the weight of her domineering attitude pressing down on him. He had grown used to her outbursts but couldn't shake the constant feeling of being burdened by her behaviour. The crew member assigned to film Phoebe's group muttered under his breath, regretting his bad luck. He'd much rather be capturing the more cooperative dynamics of Mariana and Simon's group. Phoebe, realizing she had let her temper flare too openly, forced a smile. It was brittle, lacking genuine warmth.