Elodie''s words were measured-never too harsh, never too soft. Even in front of someone with Naylor''s powerful background, and even with Klein himself in the room, she refused to y along or pretend deference.


    From the moment Naylor had shown up at VistaLink Technologies, Elodie knew Klein would inevitably get involved. This wasn''t just any project; the flight control system was critical. She and Naylor didn''t have some deep-seated feud, but she had no patience for his willful disregard of right and wrong. She wouldn''t indulge him, not even if Klein himself tried to intervene. And Naylor could forget about quietly sweeping things under the rug.


    Business was business.


    Only after the issue was resolved could they talk about what came next.


    That was her bottom line.


    Klein was caught off guard.


    He had a good sense of Elodie''s character. On the surface, she seemed calm andposed, but she was anything but a pushover; she had her own mind. If even she refused to back down...


    He turned to look at Naylor.


    Naylor''s expression had darkened, lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line as he red at Elodie, clearly unhappy.


    He hadn''t expected Elodie to call him out-especially in front of his father. "What''s going on?" Charlie''s voice cut in, cold and sharp.


    Klein frowned, shooting Naylor a look that all but screamed, "What the hell is wrong with you?"


    Was this what his son was capable of? Picking fights with a young woman?


    Elodie didn''t bother sparing anyone''s pride. She set down her teacup and spoke, each word precise and clear. "May I ask, Mr. Whitaker, on what grounds you''ve repeatedly mocked and ndered me, using me of questionable morals and of stringing multiple men along? I don''t recall ever having any personal rtionship with you, much less one close enough for you to im to ''know'' me so well." Naylor''s face drained of color.


    Klein''s face was thunderous. He mmed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, voice icy with anger. "Naylor! Is this how I raised you?"


    He suspected Elodie was even toning it down-who knew what Naylor had really said?


    Even Charlie, usually unppable, couldn''t hide his reaction. He shot Klein a frosty look and said, "Quite the son you''ve got there-bullies young women, does he?"


    He set his ss down with a decisive thud and, without another word, stood and walked out, not bothering to hide his disgust.


    Klein suddenly felt helpless. Now he''d managed to anger Charlie too.


    And with Charlie''s famous stubbornness, Klein knew he''d have to spend a good while smoothing things over.


    Naylor''s jaw was clenched tight as he stared at Elodie, all that frustration with nowhere to go.


    How dare she ask him that?


    Did she not know what she''d done? Toying with Alexander on one hand and


    flirting with Jarrod on the other. Alexander was one thing, but Jarrod already had a girlfriend!


    And as a woman, couldn''t she show some understanding for someone like Sylvie? Willingly ying the other woman?


    Of course, he couldn''t say any of that now. Not in front of his father. He didn''t dare.


    Klein was livid, shooting his son a blistering re. "Elodie used to be married, and you have no right to throw baseless usations at her or tarnish her reputation. Apologize!"


    Elodie''s marriage...


    Naylor was momentarily stunned.


    How did his father even know about that? Who was her ex-husband, anyway?


    Alexander, hearing Klein''s words, shot a quick nce at Elodie and smoothly said, "Let''s leave the past in the past."


    Klein looked over at Elodie, who hadn''t spoken. He seemed to understand.


    He pped Naylor on the arm. "Well? Cat got your tongue?"


    Naylor''s lips tightened again, but finally, he took a deep breath, picked up his ss, and stood. "I apologize, Ms. Thorne. I spoke out of turn and was wrong to judge you. To show I mean it, I''ll finish this drink."


    He tossed back the entire ss.


    The strong whiskey burned his throat, coloring his neck red. Whether it was the alcohol or sheer embarrassment, it was hard to say.


    Elodie knew getting a direct apology from Naylor was no small feat. For a man as innately arrogant as he was, even a forced apology must sting. She didn''t care whether he was sincere—she just wanted to take him down a peg and remind him not to overstep again.


    She let her gaze drift from Naylor to Klein, her tone polite but firm. "I''m sorry to have dragged you into all this unpleasantness today, and I appreciate your fairness. VistaLink Technologies won''t put you in a difficult position. We''ll sell the patent to TerraCore Technologies."