190: An Unlikely Gathering

Emma, feeling cornered by the unexpected arrival of Francis and Desmond, sought refuge in Wayne's office. "Wayne, can you handle this? Tell them I'm swamped. I can't deal with any more complications right now." Wayne, rather than leaping to action, pondered the dynamics at play. "You've got Desmond and Bauer circling around you like protective eagles, Emma. If you had to choose, who'd it be?" Emma's patience thinned. "Really, Wayne? I'm trying to steer clear of any romantic entanglements, and here you are, matchmaking? I'm not here to vie for inheritance or company stakes." Wayne chuckled, misinterpreting her frustration. "Calm down, I'm just musing out loud. But seriously, how do you plan to juggle Desmond's longstanding friendship and Bauer's business proposition?" Emma sighed, her heart heavy with the complexity of her personal and professional life. "I have no romantic interest in either. Right now, I just want to focus on stabilizing the company." Understanding the