Chapter 321

Damien's phone buzzed with another message. "Stuck in a board meeting. You guys continue."

Then his status went offline.

Tristan slid into his car and made the same decision. He typed quickly, "Swamped with work. Catch you later."

The chat app closed with a tap.

Seeing both men bow out, Selene sent her parting shot. "Lunch break. Later."

Arlo had no choice but to let it go.

After her midday meal, Camille headed to the R&D wing for a strategy session.

Declan Vaughn sat among the analysts.

She dissected problems with surgical precision, proposing solutions before most noticed the issues. He observed in silence, fingers steepled beneath his chin.

As the meeting concluded, Camille gathered her tablet. She paused when she caught Declan's intense gaze. "First day at Hartwell Group treating you well?" The question was pure protocol.

"Adjusting smoothly." His reply came smooth as whiskey.

A curt nod. She exited without another word.

The week unfolded with Camille balancing corporate duties while negotiating publishing rights with the AI Quarterly journal.

Friday afternoon found her reviewing R&D metrics. She tapped her intercom. "Selene, send Mr. Vaughn up."

Three minutes later, a knock announced his arrival.

"Sit." Camille didn't look up from her screen. "Your algorithm shows marginal efficiency gains. Still falls short of benchmark projections."

She launched into a technical critique.

Declan absorbed every syllable.

Five days at Hartwell Group had revealed Camille's true caliber. The poised executive before him bore little resemblance to his interview assessment.

Yet she showed no curiosity about his transformed demeanor. Nor had she mentioned the yellow roses he'd sent as apology on day one.

As if the gesture never happened.

During interviews, he'd recognized her competence. Now, working under her? She operated on a level that humbled his so-called genius status.

She made Lucerne's top AI researchers seem pedestrian by comparison.

But more crucially—

"Any questions?" Her voice sliced through his thoughts.

Declan stood. "None."

The dismissal was implicit.

Back at his workstation, his phone vibrated. "So? Made progress with the Ice Queen? Who's she picking—you or Ashcroft?"

Pick between him and Gabriel?

In Camille's eyes, he was just another replaceable cog in the R&D machine.

"Negative." He terminated the call mid-data analysis.

The phone lit up again—Selene this time. He silenced it without glancing at the screen.

"Mommy!" Maisie launched herself into Freya's waiting arms.

Freya embraced her daughter, then smiled at the solemn girl beside her. "Chloe."

Chloe watched Maisie nuzzle against her mother. "Mrs. Finch."

Maisie peered around. "Where's your driver?"

Chloe scanned the pickup lane. No black sedan in sight.

Mothers collected classmates left and right. She usually rode home alone.

It never bothered her before.

Parent pickups were for babies. She'd told herself she didn't care.

Now though...

Freya noticed Chloe's slumped shoulders. "Everything alright, dear?"

Chloe said nothing.

Just then, her chauffeur pulled up.

A quick wave to Maisie and Freya, then she slid into the leather seat.

As the car merged into traffic, Chloe glimpsed Maisie skipping hand-in-hand with her mother through the rear window.

She exhaled, pulling out her phone. Camille's contact flashed on screen.

Her thumb hovered.

After three breaths, she dialed Damien instead.