Chapter Twenty-Four

Peter smiled as he handed Magnus the neatly wrapped package Richie had given him after they parked in Mars Corporation's private lot. 'Give this to Stella when you see her. Don't tell her it's from me, just say it's from Richie Corporation.'

Magnus took the package, a sly grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. 'I'm sure she'll love it,' he said, stepping out and heading for the ground-floor elevator.

When Magnus reached Stella's office, she was seated behind a mountain of paperwork, her fingers flying over the keyboard. Her eyes flicked up as he approached, landing on the brightly wrapped package bearing Richie Corporation's logo in his hands.

'What's this?' she asked, leaning forward slightly, curiosity sparking in her eyes.

'A little something from Richie Corporation,' Magnus said, holding it out to her. 'Sir Peter…' He caught himself mid-sentence and cleared his throat. 'Richie Corporation thought you'd like it.'

Stella raised an eyebrow, but didn't press further, sensing that Magnus preferred not to elaborate. However, it was clear to her that Peter was behind the gift. 'Thank you, Magnus,' she said, appreciating the gesture.

Her fingers traced the branded paper as she untied the ribbon. The paper fell away, revealing an artful arrangement of snacks and a bottle of udara wine. She breathed in the aroma, her eyes lighting up. 'Wow… this looks amazing.'

Magnus settled into a chair, watching her reaction. 'Sir Richie showed us around the food department today. They're all about health-conscious foods and drinks. Just like Mars Corporation, they're aiming to make a difference.'

Stella paused, inhaling the rich aroma of the snacks. 'Sounds like a great company to work with.'

'It is. But you work here, and there's no need to think about working there, right?' Magnus replied, a teasing glint in his eye.

'Not a second thought,' Stella reassured him with a smile. 'Even if I applied, Night—Richie's wife—wouldn't let me. She'd prefer I stay here at Mars Corporation.' She took a deep breath, content with her place at Mars Corporation, with no intention of leaving.

Magnus chuckled, nodding in agreement. 'Just like Mars Corporation's food department, Richie Corporation isn't just about flavour; everything they do is designed to promote health and well-being.'

Stella smiled, eager to try the snacks and udara wine. 'I can't wait to dig in. Thanks for bringing this back,' she said, though the subtle flicker in her eyes revealed she knew exactly who had sent it.

Magnus chuckled, but his words almost gave too much away. 'Of course. Sir Peter thought you'd enjoy it.' He caught himself, pausing for a split second before correcting smoothly, 'I knew you'd enjoy it.' His gaze briefly flicked to Stella, checking if she noticed the slip.

Stella's brow lifted slightly, a knowing look in her eyes, but she didn't press him. 'Thank you, Magnus,' she said again, her tone calm but with a hint of amusement, as if she already knew more than he realised.

'You're welcome,' Magnus replied with a smile.

She carefully unscrewed the sleek glass bottle of udara wine and took a sip, the tangy-sweet flavour lingering on her tongue. Her lips curled into a satisfied smile. 'Refreshing,' she murmured, her eyes lingering on the snacks. 'I can't wait to try these.'

Magnus leaned back in the chair, arms crossed, a grin playing at the corner of his mouth, while a hint of amusement danced in his eyes. 'Just wait until you taste the snacks... they're even better.'

As Stella enjoyed the snacks and wine, Magnus shared more details about the meeting, from the challenges of integrating autonomous cars into city traffic to the company's long-term vision for sustainable innovation.

Stella listened intently, pleased to hear about the progress and the exciting direction both Richie and Mars Corporation were taking. The two companies were leading the way in the business world, and she was very proud of the two friends for their achievements so far.