AfterMr.andMrs.Grayleft,Franklinasked,“HaveyoufinishedtalkingtoMrs.Gray?”


    Juliasmiledandnodded,“Yes.”


    FromMrs.Gray’sexpressionearlier,itwasclearthatshewasgrowingmoreandmore dissatisfiedwithMaggie.


    Mrs.GrayhadactuallyknownaboutthesituationbetweenWilsonTechandColeforsometime.Johnnyhadalreadygivenheraheads–up.


    WhenMrs.Grayspokewith Juliaearlier,therehadn’tbeenaphonecall.Infact,Mrs.Grayhadrecordedtheirconversation.


    Shehaddistancedherselfabit,ncedoveratFranklinandJulia,andthensenttherecordingtoJohnny.


    JohnnyandMaggiehadn’tfinishedworkyet.Afterlisteningtotherecording,JohnnysmiledandwenttoMaggie’sofficetotellheraboutit.


    Afterhearingthedetails,Maggiesaid,“NowI’malmostcertain–we’vedefinitelywonthiwsuit.”


    “That’sright.”


    Theirinsistenceonsuingforacontract terminationwasn’tjustaboutwantingtobreakthecontractwithWilsonTech;itwasalsoaboutpressuringJulia.


    Theywantedtoforceherintotakingactiontotrytostopthetermination.IfJuliatriedtoapproachtheMillerfamilyor hisfamilytoreachasettlement,shewouldinevitablybetrickedintosayingsomethingorcreatingmoreconflicts.


    Inshort,themoreJuliatriedtodo,themoremistakesshewouldmake.Ifshejuststucktoexpressingherapologsorwillingnesstocooperate,thenafterthetrial,theymightnotbeabletoterminatethecontractEveniftheydid,thpensationwouldlikelynotbeveryhigh.


    Butnow,thingshadchanged.


    TheconflictsbetweenthemhadalreadybeencausedbyJulia,andnowshewasframingtheterminationassomethingMaggiehadmaniptedbecauseofpersonalgrudges.


    Itwasimportant torememberthatMaggiewasnotonlyacoretechnicalstaffmemberofCole,butalsothekeypersoninchargeoftheircooperationwithWilsonTech.


    Juliahadnotonlydisrespectedtheactualdetailsoftheircooperationbuthadalso,inanattempttoavoidthetermination,unfairlysmearedthekeytechnicalpersonneloftheirproject.


    This providedthemwithextremelyfavorableevidenceforthecase,makingitimpossibleforthemtocontinue


    cooperating


    Furthermore,Juliaimedthat sheandMaggiehadpersonalgrievances,whichwaswhyMaggiewantedthemto


    terminate the contract


    However,whentheyreachedcourt,ifthejudgeaskedabouttheirpersonalismes,wantJuliaworriedthatMaggiewouldopenlyrevelloftheirpastconflicts?


    Ifitcametothat,JuliawouldlikelybemoreconcernedabouthepersonalgrievanceswithMaggieheingexposedthanaboutthepotentialterminationofthecontractbetweenWilsonTechandCole.


    Atthatpoint,toavoidansweringthatquestion,juliamightevenbewillingtodirectlyagreetotheterminationandpaytheexorbitantfeestheywereaskingfor.


    Thinkingofthis,Johnny’ssmilegrewevenbrighter.


    JustasJohanyleft Maggie’soffice,Maggie’sphonerang


    ItwasacallfromIsabe.


    Actually,Isabehadcalledherearlierthatmorning,butshehadn’tanswered.


    TomorrowwasthedayofIsabe’sfencinpetition.Isabemusthavebeencallingtoconfirmwhethershecouldapanyhertotheevent,right?


    Butthenagain,itwasn’tcertain.Maybeshehadchangedhermindanddidn’twanthertoattendthpetition.PerhapsshewouldpreferthatFranklinandJuliagowithherinstead.


    Afterall,suchthingshadhappenedbefore.


    Withthisthoughtinmind,Maggiestilldidn’tanswerIsabe’scall


    Shesetherphoneasideandnnedtofinishthedataprocessingbeforecallingitaday.


    Isabecalledherseveralmoretimes.WhenshesawthatMaggiewasn’tanswering,shefeltasenseofdisappointmentandsadness.


    Laterthatevening,when Franklinreturnedhome,hefoundIsabesittingonthesofa,holdingasmalltoy,lookingglumandupset.


    Franklinimmediately guessedtheproblem:“DidMomnotansweryourcallorcouldn’tshewithyou?”


    Isabepouted,tuggingatthetoy’sfuzzyears.“She didn’tanswer.”


    Shewasquietforamoment,thenlookeduptofindFranklinlooseninghistieandwatchingher,seeminglywaitingforhertomakeadecision.Afterafewsecondsofsilence,sheloweredhergazeandsaid.“SinceMomdoesn’thavetime,couldyouandAuntJuliaapanymetothpetitiontomorrow?”


    Franklinsmiled.“Sure.”


    “T11letAuntJuliaknow.”


    “Alright.”


    “Goodnight,Dad.”


    Aftersayingthat,Isabehuggedthetoyandwentupstairs.


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