The brief respite after Robert's collapse vanished instantly. Theodore Lucas, seeing Robert's sheer determination, decided it was time to finalize the competition. He didn't want the succession to be a political struggle; he wanted it to be an irrefutable test of pure competence.
The formal competition was announced: a series of three grueling business tests over two months. The winner would be named the successor.
The first test was announced immediately: The Acquisition Challenge. Robert and Ethan were each given a limited budget and three weeks to identify, negotiate the purchase of, and acquire a failing, mid-sized gem cutting facility in Asia.
The test demanded speed, financial acumen, and ruthless negotiation—all areas where Robert excelled and Ethan typically failed.
The competition brought the hostility between Robert and Ethan to a fever pitch. Ethan, fueled by Charlotte's venom, cornered Robert in the company cafeteria the next morning.
"You may have fooled the doctors with your pathetic fainting act, Robert," Ethan sneered, his heavy frame crowding the space. "But you won't fool the board. You're too soft. You'll blink first in the negotiations, and I'll clean up your mistakes."
"You've been handed everything, Ethan," Robert said, keeping his voice low and steady. "I earned the right to compete. The only mistake I'll be cleaning up is the mess you've made of your education."
The exchange left Robert physically shaking, but also fiercely motivated. She retreated to the dormitory, diving into research. This was her purpose; she couldn't afford to fail.
The tension only amplified the strain in the dormitory. David, who was now publicly courting Amelia, felt the need to re-establish his dominance and distract himself from his confusing jealousy of James.
He walked into the shared lounge to find Robert and James huddled over a global map. Robert was pointing at a specific region in Thailand.
"The labor costs are fixed, but the political instability is an eight out of ten," James was advising quietly. "You need a local contact who can guarantee safety for the transport, Robert, or the whole deal is worthless."
David slammed his briefcase onto the table. "You wasting your time on that region, Robert. Too messy. You need volume, not risk. If you want to impress Theodore, you buy in bulk in Brazil, where the regulations are looser."
Robert looked up, annoyed by the interruption and the casual dismissal of her detailed work. "Brazil is oversaturated, David. It offers mediocre returns. I'm looking for strategic leverage, not just volume."
"Losing all your money and the competition isn't strategic leverage," David shot back, his tone unnecessarily aggressive. His annoyance with Robert's ambition masked his true frustration: he hated seeing Robert rely on James.
James rose slowly, positioning himself between Robert and David. His expression was calm, but his eyes were hard.
"Robert asked for my opinion on risk assessment, David," James said evenly. "He didn't ask for market advice from someone whose entire focus is currently on planning gala dinners with Amelia."
The comment cut deep. It stripped away David's professional pretense, leaving him exposed. David knew James wasn't wrong—he had been prioritizing Amelia—but the truth, coming from James, felt like an attack on his manhood and his choices.
"Stay out of my business, James," David snapped, his fists clenched. "And maybe you should focus on your own job instead of trying to play mentor to the heir."
Robert watched the clash, the tension between the two men thick and ugly. It was more than a professional disagreement; it was a battle for influence, for loyalty, and, terrifyingly, for her time and attention. She realized with a sinking heart that James, in trying to protect her, was only succeeding in pushing David further away—straight into the waiting, convenient arms of her enemy.