ROWON's fall

Chris woke up to the sound of his phone vibrating on the nightstand. Groggily, he reached for it, squinting at the caller ID. It was an unknown number. Frowning, he answered.

"Mr. Rowon? This is Ms. Valeria, Mr. Ortega's secretary. He has requested your presence at TWIGRI headquarters immediately. Please come with Mr. Stans."

Chris sat up, rubbing his temples. "Did he mention what this is about?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Valeria said curtly before hanging up.

Chris sighed, already feeling the weight of whatever awaited them. He quickly got dressed and knocked on Ryan's door. Within moments, Ryan appeared, already suited up as if he had anticipated this call.

"We're being summoned," Chris said.

Ryan adjusted his cufflinks. "Yeah, I had a feeling. Let's go."

When they arrived at TWIGRI's headquarters, the receptionist directed them toward the waiting lounge. As they walked in, Chris noticed a small group standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows, engaged in quiet conversation.

The man at the center of the group turned around, his sharp, youthful features accentuated by a confident smirk. He extended a hand toward Chris.

"Chris Rowon," the man said smoothly. "A pleasure to finally meet you."

Chris hesitated, scanning the faces around him. Two women stood beside the man—one, a sleek-looking woman with sharp glasses and an air of calculation, and the other, slightly younger but no less poised. Behind them was another man, older, with a composed expression—likely the COO.

Before Chris could respond, Ryan subtly stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "Chris, meet Kaito Haneda, CEO of DAIPAN Industries, along with his advisors, Ms. Fujimoto and Ms. Rivera. That man over there is Mr. Sato, DAIPAN's COO. They're our local competitors. And… they're here for the same deal."

Chris's jaw tightened as realization set in. Kaito's smirk deepened as he pulled back his hand. "Congratulations on securing a deal with TWIGRI. I look forward to our cooperation."

Ryan and Chris exchanged a glance. Before Chris could form a response, Ortega's secretary, Valeria, stepped into the room. "Gentlemen, please proceed to Mr. Ortega's office."

Inside Ortega's office, the atmosphere was heavy with expectation. The TWIGRI CEO sat at his desk, his piercing gaze moving between both parties as they took their seats.

"I won't waste time," Ortega began. "Both ROWON Enterprises and DAIPAN Industries have secured a contract with TWIGRI. After careful evaluation, we have decided that rather than selecting a single supplier, we will be working with both of you. The market is too vast, and competition is necessary."

Chris stiffened slightly but remained silent, waiting for Ortega to continue.

"The terms are simple," Ortega continued. "The supply chain will be divided equally—50% of TWIGRI's product demand will be supplied by ROWON, and the remaining 50% by DAIPAN. This will ensure both corporations remain competitive while benefiting from our expansive distribution network."

Kaito was the first to speak, his voice carrying an amused lilt. "Interesting approach. And what exactly will TWIGRI be providing to us in return?"

Ortega leaned back, steepling his fingers. "In exchange, TWIGRI will grant ROWON and DAIPAN exclusive distribution rights to new regions, vastly expanding your market reach. ROWON will handle North America and select European markets, while DAIPAN will cover Asia and Latin America. Additionally, TWIGRI will provide financial backing to both companies should any supply chain disruptions occur."

Ryan nodded slightly. "And what about product standardization? Surely, you wouldn't want two different companies delivering inconsistent quality."

One of Ortega's board members interjected, "Precisely why both companies will adhere to a unified production guideline established by TWIGRI. This will ensure uniformity and efficiency across the board."

Chris, though still processing, spoke up. "And what happens in case of conflict? Market strategies between ROWON and DAIPAN are vastly different. There's bound to be some overlap."

Ortega smirked. "That's where business acumen comes into play, Mr. Rowon. Competition breeds excellence. If one company underperforms, we may be forced to reconsider our contract."

Kaito chuckled. "In other words, may the best company win."

Chris clenched his jaw. This wasn't the ideal outcome, but TWIGRI was too big of a player to turn down. He turned to Ryan, who gave him the faintest nod—one of understanding and strategy.

"We'll agree to the terms," Chris finally said, his voice firm. "ROWON is prepared for this challenge."

Kaito gave him a knowing glance before leaning back in his chair. "As is DAIPAN."

Ortega nodded in satisfaction. "Good. I expect great things from both of you."

As the meeting adjourned, Chris and Ryan exited the office, tension still thick in the air. Just before they left the building, Kaito called out, "Chris."

Chris turned, facing him.

Kaito's smirk was ever-present. "Let's see how well ROWON can keep up."

Chris returned the look, determination burning in his eyes. "Likewise."

Ryan glanced at Chris as they stepped into the car. "We just walked into a battlefield

Chris exhaled. "Then let's make sure we win the war."

Meanwhile, back at ROWON Enterprises, the news of the signing spread like wildfire. Employees gathered around TV screens, eagerly watching the broadcast that covered the monumental moment—the signing of the contract between TWIGRI, ROWON, and DAIPAN. The flashing cameras of journalists filled the frame, capturing every handshake and the carefully orchestrated smiles.

In the executive lounge, Leo, Sophie, Emily, Mark, and the others stood in a quiet, tense line, their eyes glued to the screen. When the camera captured Chris and Ryan signing the agreement with Ortega and Kaito, a collective cheer erupted. Employees clapped and exchanged high-fives, the heavy weight of uncertainty lifting for the first time in weeks. The future of ROWON seemed more secure now—at least for the moment.

"This is it," Leo muttered, a rare smile forming on his face. "We've done it. We're back in the game."

"Let's just hope the competition doesn't get the better of us," Sophie added, her voice full of caution, but even she couldn't suppress her relief.

At the same time, across town in Eric's private office, the mood was starkly different. The same broadcast flickered on the screen, but instead of applause, Eric's fists clenched at his sides. His jaw tightened as he watched the handshake between Chris and Ortega, the smug expression of Kaito Haneda making his blood boil.

"How did they pull this off?" Eric muttered, his voice barely audible. "They were supposed to fail. This… this changes everything."

The scowl on his face deepened as he gritted his teeth, staring at the image of his competitors sealing the deal with TWIGRI. For a moment, the rage boiled within him, a fierce desire for revenge rising.

"This isn't over," Eric said, his voice low and dangerous. "I'll make sure of that."

END OF CHAPTER 8