Victor Dray, rival CEO of Dray Empire (cosmetics, luxury goods, ocean spas, anti-Hale Global board provocateur), attempted a distribution partnership offer that included emotional perks: admiration, solvency clauses, romantic dinners disguised as brand strategy, admiration delivered in excess.
Lila refused politely. Which for Victor seemed unexpected; for Dorian seemed foreseen.
Victor whispered, "You're building a perfume, not a bunker."Lila answered, "Bunkers don't smell this good."
Dorian quietly requested market research on Victor's weakness profiles that afternoon.