245: Rivalry Rendezvous and Corporate Conundrums

The stage was set for a showdown not seen since the Capulets and Montagues, or at least that's how Alex and Bauer's sidewalk standoff seemed to the casual onlooker. Their shared journey, laden with silent accusations and unspoken challenges, was a spectacle of discomfort and defiance. As they ambled side by side, the air thick with tension, Alex broke the silence with a jab cloaked in concern, "Stumbled upon any good fortunes in dumpsters lately, Bauer? Or are you still playing the long game of wooing Emma with your heroic single-dad narrative?" Bauer, unfazed and ever so droll, retorted, "Well, Alex, I must say, your approach of 'how to lose friends and alienate people' is bold. But remind me, how's that working out for you? Last I checked, Emma's interest in recycling exes was non-existent." Their barbs were as subtle as a sledgehammer at a tea party, each blow aimed to wound. Yet, the most significant injury was perhaps to the ego, as both men grappled with the realization