Chapter 38

"No need. I'm done with NovaSight Labs for good!" Felix snapped as he stormed off without a backward glance.

Camille valued talent deeply. She turned to Gabriel, who gave a subtle shake of his head, signaling her to wait.

Gabriel recognized Felix's brilliance but couldn't ignore the obvious - the man had been infatuated with Selene since day one.

While Felix's feelings weren't Gabriel's concern, his judgment had clearly been compromised. The way he'd lashed out at Camille's arrival was completely unprofessional and unacceptable.

Moreover, their work involved government-classified technology protected by NDAs. Camille's true identity couldn't be disclosed.

Felix's rash behavior stemmed from his blind admiration for Selene. Even if Camille demonstrated her skills later, he'd likely remain skeptical.

He'd probably insist Selene could outperform her. The truth was, Camille would inevitably surpass Felix soon enough.

If Felix believed Gabriel favored Camille, he might become a liability - a risk the company couldn't afford.

Camille felt relieved seeing Gabriel understood the situation perfectly.

Gabriel cleared his throat. "While Camille hasn't pursued a PhD, I assure you her technical skills are exceptional."

The office staff exchanged confused glances. They knew Felix had recommended a friend before, but without details, they remained in the dark.

A similar incident had occurred last year when a senior executive's mistress joined the team. The woman appeared polished and articulate.

She claimed to be a grad student from an elite university with solid knowledge. In reality, she couldn't grasp basic concepts. They eventually doubted she'd ever attended college.

History seemed to repeat itself with Gabriel replacing Felix's highly-qualified referral with Camille. No wonder Felix was furious. The team questioned Gabriel's objectivity.

Noticing their skepticism, Gabriel didn't press further. "What project was Felix working on recently?"

Everett Ortiz, Felix's colleague, provided a concise briefing.

Gabriel turned to Camille. "Could you take over Felix's remaining work?"

"Of course," Camille agreed.

She addressed the team graciously, "I look forward to learning from you all." They responded politely but cautiously, hoping she'd prove competent enough not to burden them.

While most colleagues remained indifferent, Everett struggled to hide his displeasure.

His expression darkened momentarily before forcing professionalism. "All necessary files are here. Let me know if you need anything."

"Thank you," Camille replied simply.

Everett sighed internally. At least her attitude was decent.