Penny and Niall's faces changed subtly at Veronica's bold statement. Under normal circumstances, they would have immediately made Bonnie apologize to smooth things over. Preserving their reputation always came first, and they never allowed minor incidents to escalate.

But Veronica had cleverly turned the tables by suggesting that if they found her team incompetent, they were welcome to terminate DataPulse Enterprises's contract.

This unexpected challenge shifted everyone's attention to a different question: Did Veronica actually have the authority to make such decisions for DataPulse Enterprises?

The Crystal and Mack instinctively thought they could deal with Bonnie's mistake later. Their immediate strategy was to question Veronica's authority, planning to address the apology issue afterward if necessary. What they hadn't anticipated was how Veronica would capitalize on their momentary lapse in judgment, redirecting the entire conversation away from Bonnie's inappropriate behavior.

Most of the technicians from DataPulse Enterprises and Stellar staff weren't privy to the complex history between Veronica and these powerful families. They were simply observers to the unfolding drama, with little interest in the legalities of Veronica's signature or authority.

What these onlookers witnessed was far more damning - the Mack and Crystal staunchly defending Bonnie despite her obvious wrongdoing. The powerful families' strategy of questioning Veronica's authority only made them appear more unreasonable.

Vincent and his colleagues watched in disbelief. While Bonnie's unpleasant personality surprised no one, seeing Niall, Penny, and Sophia - individuals known for their scholarly demeanor and courtesy - behave so unreasonably was jarring. These were people who had cultivated reputations of reasonableness and dignity, now showing an entirely different side of themselves.

Niall, recognizing the rapidly deteriorating situation, quickly stepped in. "I apologize, Ms. Murray," she said with practiced smoothness. "Cullen and I deeply value our partnership with DataPulse Enterprises - we wouldn't have initiated it otherwise. We have absolute confidence in your company's technological capabilities."

She continued with calculated sincerity, "My mother and I have always been protective of Bonnie. We're accustomed to shielding her, and we let emotions get the better of us, leading to inappropriate comments. We didn't mean anything by it. Ms. Murray, I hope you can overlook this unfortunate incident."

Veronica's gaze remained cool and evaluating. "So you're suggesting I should simply forget this happened and move on?" she asked, her tone making it clear she had no intention of doing so.

Niall recognized the impasse. Veronica wouldn't back down easily, and the situation demanded concrete action rather than empty words. "Ms. Murray, what would satisfy you as a serious demonstration of our regret? Name your terms, and we'll accommodate your requests to the best of our abilities."

Veronica expertly deflected the question. "Ms. Crystal, don't you believe you should be the one to determine an appropriate response to your own actions?"

Niall faltered momentarily before attempting recovery. "You're absolutely right, Ms. Murray. Perhaps I could arrange lunch for everyone as a gesture of apology—"

"We're on a tight schedule with our project," Veronica interrupted firmly. "I'm not interested in attending any business meetups. You can save those conversations for Mr. Reid."

With that, Veronica turned away and resumed her work, dismissing the Mack and Crystal as though they were no longer present in the room.

Niall glanced at Veronica's rigid back before offering apologies to the other DataPulse Enterprises staff members. Then she gathered Penny, Sophia, and the others, quietly leading them away from the tense atmosphere.

Once they were safely out of earshot, Bonnie couldn't contain her frustration any longer. "This was nothing but a minor incident! That bitch is clearly bitter that Cullen gave Stellar to Niall. That's why she's turning this insignificant matter into such a dramatic scene."

"Her motivations are irrelevant," Penny cut in coldly, fixing Bonnie with an icy stare. "What matters is that you need to control what comes out of your mouth. You're an adult now, Bonnie. Such recklessness is no longer acceptable."

Niall's expression darkened further, the consequences of Bonnie's careless words clearly weighing on her mind.