CHAPTER THIRTY NINE – A CHANCE FOR A PARTNERSHIP

The morning light filtering through the hotel window found Kayla alone in the plush suite. Lance was gone, likely attending to last-minute preparations for their business meeting. The playful, affectionate Lance from the night before was a distant memory. Now, a cold formality hung in the air, mirroring the chill in her heart. Kayla sighed, used to Lance's unpredictable moods but still stung by his abrupt withdrawal. Shrugging it off, she focused on getting ready. The meeting was to be held at the imposing glass and steel headquarters of the Ehrentraut Corporation. As they arrived, a flurry of activity surrounded them. Executives in crisp suits greeted Lance with a mixture of awe and reverence. Clearly, Lance held a special position within this company. They were ushered into a spacious corner office dominated by a panoramic view of the city. An older gentleman, his face etched with experience but his eyes twinkling with youthful energy, rose from behind a massive mahogany desk.