"Mr. Brunner, first come, first served. Stevens Corporation approached you first, and we already had an agreement. How can you go back on your word?" Christina tried to stay calm, though her anger simmered just beneath the surface.

Aspen's expression hardened as she spoke coldly. "Mr. Brunner, doing business is about trust. Stevens Corporation partnering with you is a win-win deal, but Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division is on its last legs.

"I heard their formulas were leaked, and