"We had just come over here to speak to you regarding our desire to build up a working relationship with you." Yvonne replied to Leo's query without batting an eye.

'Patience is a virtue.' She thought to herself and sat still.

If she were to try and rush them to sign the contracts or force them to agree with her plans then there was a high chance that she would invoke their suspicions and make them hesitate further.

'Especially when this man is watching over everything so vigilantly.' She glanced at Leo who seemed to be like the protective boundary surrounding his family.

Therefore, she made sure to appear as though she was in no rush and today was just a casual meeting between the two.

"We shall leave you alone for a week and return next week with our contract." She announced and aimed her words at Tim, the head of the family.

Though she had already prepared the contract back at the St. Claire estate in Amarthea, she did not reveal this matter to them.

She was giving them time to mull over what she had offered and then make a choice after thinking about everything with peace of mind.

Since Leo wanted proof of her words, what better way than to bring out the contract which held all the terms and conditions of their proposal?

"You may read it and if everything seems good enough then we can move ahead with our collaboration." She added while stressing the word 'collaboration'.

This was not a business deal where she was going to take Tim's hard work away from him after paying him a said amount of cash.

This was supposed to be a collaboration where he would have a say in things related to the product.

Yvonne would still be the owner and have the final say in matters concerning CLOVER.

But for this small branch that would deal with soap, she would be the silent investor while Tim takes charge of the production.

'He is the brains behind the whole production so I will not interfere in it.' She decided that knowing when to delegate tasks to others was also a quality a good leader should possess.

"Now that we know that my father's new recipe can be sold without troubles, why would we need you?" Leo's doubtful words brought their attention to him.

This question made Marcus Valente narrow his eyes as the young man's doubt was valid.

He was worried that their trip would be for naught as Yvonne had already revealed this secret to them.

"I am not forcing you to do anything. You can choose to sell the soaps on your own and I will not interfere or obstruct your business." Yvonne raised her hands to prove that she would stay out of it if that was what they chose to do.

'But will you do that?' She wondered as the benefits she was offering were tempting.

"However, you need to think about what I have said today before you make your decision." She urged as that would weigh the balance of things in her favor.

Then, without giving them a chance to speak, she began pointing certain facts out.

"Your reputation has been ruined thanks to Earl Blaise."

"You have no capital to invest in your business if you plan to start one."

"Even if you start one, you do not have the proper means to distribute your products efficiently to help expand your business to the farthest corners of Rosenhyde."

"Worst of all, just like how we found your whereabouts with ease, Earl Blaise could do the same after he hears about your restarted business."

She ended her numerous reasons with the one thing which struck a chord with them the most.

They feared that Earl Blaise would cause them harm and Yvonne had used that to her advantage.

'I am not blackmailing them to sign my contract, just stating facts of what will happen if they attempt to do it on their own.' She shrugged as this was the truth.

A vengeful and hateful man like Earl Blaise would be furious once he hears that the Hagen family were not breaking the law by selling their new products.

In his anger at their rebellion, his tactics could get even scarier than what the Hagen family had experienced in the past.

This could result in their new recipe getting buried underneath the schemes of the Earl which would truly be a shame.

Yvonne could analyze every expression of fear and apprehension flash across their faces.

'I'm only being persuasive.' She pouted her lips when she felt her father's stern gaze on her head.

Rutherford had his eyebrows raised after hearing his Vonna's subtle way of reminding the Hagen family that they were not in any state to protect themselves from the clutches of Earl Blaise.

She was using their fear in her favor which might seem like she was exploiting their fears.

However, she was stating the facts which might make them choose her route faster than expected.

"However, if you were to choose to sign the contract. Along with all the perks, you also would not have to worry about Earl Blaise since we will take care of him." She reassured once silence reigned over them.

'He tried to mess with me so I have an ax to grind with him as well.' She narrowed her eyes as that man would have to pay for his daughter, Mae Blaise's deeds.

Leo had been watching her intently and without a doubt, saw how her eyes flashed while speaking of the Earl which further convinced him that she too did not like that man.

"The proper terms will be mentioned in the contract we bring over next week so please think about it." She alternated her eyes between the three men before nodding at him.

With this, the negotiation between the two parties had come to an end in which the noblemen did not have much to say.

Rutherford picked his daughter up and glancing at the men before him, he gave a brief nod, emulating Yvonne's actions before turning around.

Marcus, the fief Lord of this land, spoke a few more words before turning around and following his brother-in-law.

The boys soon followed and with that, the Hagen family's backyard regained its former tranquility.

"Did we just have a business meeting with a little girl?" Joe scratched his neck as they watched the two carriages begin moving away from their residence.

Tim nodded his head and rubbed his chin while thinking of what exactly the little girl would bring back for them next week.

"Father, Uncle, we should discuss this properly." Leo called for their attention as he gazed at them with a grave expression on his face.

No matter how surprised or impressed they were with the smart little girl, the elders were shaken awake by these words.

Accepting the contract would mean that they were engaging in a business war against Earl Blaise.

Preparations needed to be made and this time, Leo did not wish to be kept out of the loop.

Therefore, he gathered his elders and sat down to discuss what they would do about the offer that was being given to them by the two noble families.

____

The two carriages that had moved from the Hagen family's small residence were currently rushing back towards the Valente estate.

They had taken two hours to reach here and after their discussion with the soap maker and his family which roughly lasted for an hour and a half, they would have to journey another two hours to return home.

As the carriages moved back, Yvonne was seated with her father in the carriage made for her and her uncle was also present here.

'They hijacked the carriage and kicked the boys to the other carriage.' The little girl recalled what had taken place before the journey began.

Since Rutherford was already carrying her, she thought that he would place her in her carriage and return to the one he had used with the Viscount this morning.

However, the cunning Earl climbed aboard this carriage with her in his arms, and soon after Viscount Valente also entered this one.

The three boys could only stand outside, staring at their fathers who had stolen their seats.

They were left with no choice but to occupy Viscount Valente's carriage while Yvonne remained in this with her father and uncle.

'I suppose a discussion is on its way.' She inferred from their inquisitive glances and their sketchy behavior.