485: Unsettling Intentions

Suddenly hearing Bauer's serious tone, Emma felt a wave of discomfort. She searched his face for any hint of a joke, hoping to see a playful expression that would ease her tension. "Why do you value me so much?" she asked, half-jokingly. "I'm serious about what I said. Don't you think it's better for us to collaborate together instead of with others? We can earn more money that way." Bauer nodded, but something still felt off. Emma continued: "I never intended to collaborate with anyone else on this project from the start. My plan was to handle it myself." She explained that the projects were developed internally, with no intention to collaborate with others. The goal was to keep the profits in-house. "I just thought, since there's such a big gap between us, I’d take the initiative to suggest this collaboration. Since you already have your own ideas, I won't say much more." Bauer wanted to use this opportunity to strengthen their relationship. However, he was aware of the potentia