CHAPTER TWELVE - Shifting Allegiances

"It does when people's livelihoods are at stake!" Ava watched the argument escalate, anxiety churning in her stomach. This was the last thing the company needed, especially with the MaxTech situation still unresolved. Taking a deep breath, she strode towards the quarreling cousins. "Gentlemen," she said firmly, inserting herself between them. "Perhaps we could continue this discussion in private?" Max and Leo glared at each other for a moment longer before Max nodded curtly. "My office. Now." As the door closed behind them, Ava turned to face the cousins. "Alright, what's really going on here?" Max ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. "What's going on is that my cousin refuses to take his responsibilities seriously." "And what's going on," Leo countered, "is that my cousin needs to remove the stick from his—" "Leo!" Ava cut him off. "That's not helpful." She turned to Max. "And you. Yelling at him in front of the entire office isn't exactly