Ardent Lex held their ground.
Mariella’s petition to move the mediation hit the system like a spark in dry grass — and died out just as fast. Within forty-eight hours, Razon’s office responded with a twenty-page objection that sounded polite but bled arrogance between every line.
The mediator’s office issued its ruling by noon the next day: “The current schedule stands. Both parties are advised to comply.”
Translation - Elizalde wins again.
Mariella read the notice in silence before sliding the printed page across her desk. “They blocked us.”
Sari scanned the words, her pulse pounding. “On what grounds?”
“Procedural consistency,” Mariella said, the phrase heavy with disgust. “Razon argued that accelerated mediation creates an ‘unfair advantage’ for us since their witnesses and statem
