?Chapter 319:


    Brian’s gaze narrowed on Magee, his voiceced with thinly veiled sarcasm. “Rachel Marsh submitted her leave request at 8:03 yesterday, and you approved it by 8:04. Impressive efficiency; I didn’t realize you had so much free time on your hands.”


    Ronald could only stare, realizing Brian was deliberately stirring the pot. Magee, unfortunately, had be the unwitting focus of Brian’s frustration.


    Yet, entirely missing the subtext, Magee replied with genuine sincerity, “I strive to be prompt.”


    Brian and Ronald were both momentarily speechless. Magee’s rise to vice president had been fueled by his unparalleled technical expertise, a cornerstone of thepany’s sess. Brian himself had championed his promotion, recognizing his invaluable contributions. However, Magee’s singr focus on technical innovation had left him somewhat disconnected from the subtleties of interpersonal dynamics, rendering him almost socially oblivious.


    At this moment, Magee hadpletely misinterpreted Brian’s biting remark as praise, a misunderstanding that only deepened Brian’s irritation.


    Brian ran a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily before pushing a document across the table toward Magee. “Since you have so much time, you can take charge of this project.”


    Ordinarily, such an unexpected assignment would have been met with resistance, if not outwardly, then certainly inwardly.


    Brian’s intention was clearly to make Magee’s life moreplicated. But to his utter surprise, Magee opened the file, his face lighting up enthusiastically. “Mr. White, thank you! This is incredible! I’ve been following this project for months. A partnership with the nationalboratory? I had no idea you’d finalized this. You can count on me; I’ll pour everything into this and deliver results you’ll be proud of.”


    Brian was momentarily speechless. Ronald, sitting nearby, was equally taken aback. At that moment, he found himself marveling at Magee. Only someone as optimistic as Magee could smile in the face of Brian’s challenges. Magee was, without a doubt, a unique individual. How had Ronald never fully appreciated this before? But betterte than never.


    What irked Brian even more was that Magee stood up abruptly after flipping through the document. “Mr. White, this project is phenomenal,plex, and groundbreaking. I can’t wait to get started. I’ll have someone attend the rest of the meeting and summarize the key points for meter.”


    Seeing Magee’s uncontainable excitement, Brian could only sigh in reluctant acquiescence. “Fine. Go ahead.”


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    The initial segment of the meeting wrapped up after a brief thirty minutes, and Brian called for a recess. Almost instantly, under his steely gaze, Ronald reached for his phone and dialed Rachel’s number. Meanwhile, Rachel was in the midst of supporting Jeffrey during his third job interview. Without hesitation, she dismissed the call.


    When the line went dead, Brian’s expression turned stormy. Was Rachel truly so intent on avoiding him that she’d take leave just to stay out of his reach?


    Ronald tried again, only to be met with the same result; Rachel ended the call a second time.


    Brian’s irritation red. He stood abruptly, hands nted on his hips, andmanded, “Don’t stop calling until she answers.”


    After what felt like an endless series of attempts, Rachel, finally worn down by the incessant ringing, answered the phone.


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