Chapter Forty-Two

Over the next month at Mars Corporation, things moved swiftly. Teams were dispatched to Indonesia and Vietnam for in-person negotiations, and Stella was deeply involved in crafting the final agreements. The Southeast Asian expansion was becoming more than just a proposal on paper, it was coming to life.

In a key meeting to finalise the Jakarta partnership, Peter and Stella joined the team in person. The negotiations were rigorous, but after days of back-and-forth, they finally secured a deal. As they shook hands with Rudi and his executives, Peter leaned towards Stella and whispered, 'This is it. We've done it.'

Stella smiled, feeling a rush of pride. The journey from that initial boardroom meeting to sealing the deal had been long, but every step felt worth it. Now, their company had a foothold in Southeast Asia, and the future was brimming with potential.

As the team celebrated over dinner that night, Peter raised his glass, his eyes meeting Stella's across the table. 'To the future,' he toasted. Stella couldn't help but reflect on her journey at the company. Even after discovering that Peter had lied about being the CEO, leading her to believe he was just a provision store owner, she had almost considered resigning. But now, seeing how far she had come and how much she had contributed to the company's success, she felt a sense of pride. Next on the company's agenda was the launch of their latest product, Marsband, scheduled for December.