Cloudia was speechless, practically seeing red as Ste''s sarcastic tone echoed in her ears.


    "So, you think it''s not enough?" she spat out through clenched teeth, clearly offended by the implication that Ste was biting off more than she could chew.


    Ste responded, "Seems like you''re still in the dark about what exactly you have gone through, and why."


    The emphasis she put on "gone through" suddenly reminded her of the call she received from ise. The thought of losing two major partnerships whitened her face in shock. "Was that call to your dad''s office your doing?"


    Ste replied, "If you''ve figured it out, we should cut ties, what do you say?"


    Her tone was deceptively negotiable, but the threat behind her words was palpable.


    Cloudia couldn''t believe Ste was threatening her. Where did she get the audacity and right?


    "Take your time. Bye," Ste said.


    "Wait," Cloudia said hurriedly as Ste was about to end the call.


    Knowing locating her was already difficult and finally she was got in touch with, Cloudia had to get some answers.


    "What''s the deal with that guy?"


    "Looks like you still haven''t grasped what you really mean to me."


    Cloudia was at a loss for words, her heart tightened.


    Before she could respond, Ste had already ended the call. Holding the phone, Cloudia was so angry she wanted to throw it against the wall. "What am I to her? What does she mean, my ce?" she fumed.


    "Mom, mom, don''t."


    Watching as Cloudia intended to throw the phone, Urs instantly caught her hand, "Don''t throw it."


    Especially since it was borrowed.


    Getting through to Ste had


    v


    be increasingly difficult; their


    numbers were practically cklisted.


    Two nurses numbers had been cklisted because of them borrowing their phones to make few calls. Any phone calls made to her from them would be mercilessly sent in the cklist.


    Cloudia, bit back her fury, tried topose herself, "Outrageous, this is just outrageous."


    Never had Cloudia expected that her blocking Ste''s card this time would lead to her drastic reaction.


    "Mom, don''t be angry."


    Urs''s gentle demeanor was the only thing that calmed udia down a bit.


    "I''m not angry. If she wants to cut ties, so be it. I don''t need a daughter like that."


    Cloudia''s disappointed tone towards Ste was evident.


    "She thinks just because she''s relying on any man to make seven hundred thousand a year, she''ll always be on top?"


    "But this wasn''t good, Mom. Do you really want her to ruin herself?" Urs said, sadness in her voice.


    "What can I do then?"


    "I''ll talk to Rick. We''ll make sure the


    partnerships we offer her are carefully vetted, to keep her away from any shady deals," Urs plotted, determined to block Ste''s career paths.


    She was hell-bent on preventing them from realizing Ste''s merit in business.


    Sure enough, her words "shady deals" reignited Cloudia''s fury.