"Is there anything Ms. Carlson would like to share?" Rachel asked her.

"Yes, there is something important I want to make clear, before we move forward. One of my main concerns when I collaborate with some other business is that I won't compromise with the quality of the product especially when my brand name is associated with it. Also ethics and integrity play a very important role for me, it is also important that the people I deal with are high on integrity. This is also the main reason why I chose you three to collaborate and I hope you maintain the same level of ethics."

​​

"It is very important for us to have high morals in business, our industries were established many years back and I am the one taking it forward now, I won't and can't do anything to ruin my father or my grandfather's reputation." Rachel assured her that she would never change her style of business.

Jessica nodded as she heard what she wanted to.

"This is the reason why I wanted to meet my clients personally before I move forward, it gives me more clarity on what kind of person I would be dealing with in the future if I meet them in person also I wanted to give an opportunity to you guys to visit my factory and understand my working standards personally."

"It was indeed a good idea as I too was curious to meet Ms. Carlson."

After discussing some other important things they finally came on other important discussions.

"Ms. Carlson, before moving forward we need to be clear on how the profits will be shared between us."

"Sure, the brand name would be mine, I already thought of it, this collaboration between us would be called 'ELI' in case you are finalized for the collaboration and you have a problem with the name then we can discuss on it further, I am open for discussion and since my brand is already popular therefore no matter what this line of products will be launched under my brand, the label on the cosmetics will be the same as that of the production from your factory, that is your name would remain the same. Since the brand is mine and the product is yours, I believe the profits too should be shared between us equally."

Rachel was surprised with this suggestion as she thought Jessica would ask for a higher percentage of share but Jessica was not like other business personnel who take advantage of their brand name, she was indeed high on ethics just like she claims so Rachel accepted the suggestion.

Jessica too was glad that they were on the same page for the majority of the things, after some further discussion they again shook hands and ended their long meeting.

"Ms. Richardson, is it possible for us to have dinner tonight?" Jessica made a request.

Rachel was planning to leave early just like she promised her grandpa but when Jessica requested her to meet again for dinner so she couldn't say no as it is always a good opportunity to interact more with the potential clients to close a deal and also she didn't mean to be rude by rejecting her offer so Rachel accepted her invitation and since she was staying at Marriott, both the women decided to have dinner there. Sam too was asked to accompany them to which he happily agreed to.

Then Rachel and Sam left for their hotel with their bodyguards.

After reaching the room, the first thing Rachel did was call her grandpa, she talked to him for some time and informed him that she could not come back the same day but promised him she would be back early in the morning the next day. James got upset after knowing the news as he had been worried about her but he understood the situation and decided not to give her a hard time and so he agreed to it.

Then Rachel ordered lunch to her room and messaged Daniel but there was no reply from him, assuming he is busy with a surgery she didn't bother herself much with it and checked her emails and responded to them.

Meanwhile her lunch arrived and after eating food she took a nap.

Few hours later she was awoken by a call, when she checked the caller ID, it was Sam.

"Yeah Sam?"

"Ma'am Jessica's secretary called me and requested for a meeting with the two of us at 5 pm today."

Rachel thought for a while and asked, "Why does she want to meet me, Sam you handle her and let me know" she felt a bit weird about this meeting.

"Okay"

After few minutes Sam called her again

"Rachel, she insists she wants to talk to you too and said it is very important, she sounded serious, what should we do?"

"Okay fine, tell her to come to the coffee house which is near our hotel"

He agreed to her suggestion and after discussing with June, he fixed the meeting at 5 pm in the coffee house.

By 5 pm, Rachel got ready and went to the coffee house where Jessica's secretary was already waiting for her and Sam.

"Hello Ma'am, thanks for meeting me." She smiled while talking to Rachel.

Sam too found her behavior odd but he just decided to observe the situation.

"What's the matter? Why did you insist on meeting me?" Rachel came straight on point.

"I have something important to discuss with you."

"Well then you should have discussed it at dinner tonight, You too would be joining us right?"

"Yes but this is something I want to discuss with you in privacy."

"What is it?" Rachel seriously asked as she could feel something here was not right.

"Actually I want to share some confidential information regarding the two other clients if you wish, this will help you crack this deal for sure."

"Wait, why would you share something confidential with me?" Rachel asked in confusion.

"Of course, I won't be sharing this information for free, you pay me some money and I'll share some confidential information with you which will help you crack this deal. The kind of profits you will make from this deal would be tremendous and since I would be helping you accelerate it, I deserve something right?"

Sam was not that surprised as this is a very common thing that they came across, where some employees share confidential information in exchange of money but he knew how Rachel would be reacting to this as she dealt with people like June in the past. He pitied June and her stupidity.

"It is really surprising that Jessica is so hell bent on ethics and integrity and had hired a secretary like you." Rachel couldn't help but comment.

June chuckled at her words, "Of course she is ethical and expects the same from other people but that is not how the world works does it, do you really think every person she dealt with in this business world were all ethical? Of course not but come on how would she know who is ethical and who is not, she doesn't check on her partners everyday, she just expects integrity from them but she is not some moral police to have tabs on them and so it is impossible for her to know and let me inform you Ms. Richardson, this is not my first time helping a business personnel like you get a deal with Jessica, I have done the same in the past too and I have never been caught and in future too there is no way I will be caught, Jessica is too busy to know anything, so don't worry and please don't hesitate, Jessica would never know and you will definitely get the deal with the kind of information I have."

June explained everything with an evil grin on her face which Rachel didn't like at all. She never believes in doing business this way and she even felt bad for Jessica to have a secretary like her.

Jessica is like a sister to Daniel so Rachel too felt responsible for her and she decided to inform Jessica about it but before that she had to reject June as she can never agree to such despicable means to crack a deal.

"No need Ms. June, thank you for your offer and consideration but I want to get this deal with my own hard work and efforts" She gracefully stood up and left the place.

Sam quickly followed her and June sighed in disappointment.

"Sorry Rachel I didn't expect this secretary would be like this" Sam apologized to her as he felt guilty for arranging this meeting.

"No Sam you are not at fault, you did what you felt was right. It is not your fault if Jessica's secretary turned out to be an unethical assistant. Rather I am feeling bad for Jessica" Rachel informed him and she looked a bit worried too.