"...?"


    Jarrod was already out the door.


    Elodie walked over to lock up behind him, but as she nced through the


    peephole, she saw Jarrod striding confidently across the hall-heading straight for the apartment opposite hers.


    He opened the door, stepped inside, and shut it behind him in one seamless motion.


    No lingering, no drama.


    Elodie stood at her door for a moment, taken aback.


    Jarrod lives across the hall?


    Is he out of his mind?


    He has a mansion-why would he choose this cramped, "humble" apartment instead?


    Just to keep up appearances with his grandmother? Was all that effort really necessary?


    She only mulled it over for a moment. Whatever Jarrod wanted to do with his life was his own business. She had no right to interfere.


    Still, he had been acting... off today.


    But in the end, Jarrod''s injuries were because of her.


    She hated owing anyone.


    When she finished making dinner, Elodie hesitated for a moment, then packed an extra portion into a thermal container. She walked over and left it at his door, gave a polite knock, and slipped back into her own apartment without waiting for him to


    answer.


    The next morning.


    Elodie was up bright and early. It was impossible not to notice the apartment across the hall as she left.


    Having Jarrod right next door now-it was odd, no matter how she tried to ignore


    it.


    But the thermal container fromst night was gone. He''d taken it in.


    She nced once, then looked away, tightening her grip on her bag as she hurried down the stairs.


    When she arrived at VistaLink Technologies, Alexander Sterling had just gotten there as well.


    Not only was Elodie preparing to join a new department at the research base, but VistaLink Technologies also had a project in the works. There were bidding negotiations to be handled, and the proposal preparations were a mountain of work.


    For nearly ten days straight, Elodie barely had a moment to breathe, sometimes sleeping at her desk just to keep up.


    As for the progress of Jarrod''s negotiations regarding the SX Alloy material, she hadn''t heard a word.


    But the higher-ups had finally sent her formal appointment notice.


    She needed to report in.


    After making her way through a maze of red tape, Elodie finally confirmed her new assignment-just as Watts Aldridge arrived.


    "Looks like we''re not in the same department," Watts said with a shrug, sounding almost disappointed.


    Elodie, on the other hand, found that a relief. There was such a thing as seeing too much of a colleague.


    “But Lily Lockwood''s with you, right? You''re the heavy hitter now-they''ll probably have you mentor her," Watts added. He knew that with Elodie''s skill, she was more than qualified to take on apprentices.


    "We''ll see how they arrange things," Elodie replied, keeping her tone neutral.


    Watts gave a quiet chuckle. He never hesitated to speak his mind, even when most people would hold back. "Honestly, I''m kind of jealous of Lily She lucked out, getting fo work with you. I always hoped I''d get to pick your brain a bit more. You''re the reason I got into this field in the first ce-you''re something of an idol for me."


    He wasn''t shy about showing his admiration or his humility.


    Elodie didn''t quite know how to respond to that.


    But she could see that Watts had genuine ambition-he wasn''t just another trust- fund kid coasting by.


    If she could help move the country''s scientific research forward, she was more than willing.


    "Ms. Thorne, pleasee to Room 1001." Someone came by to notify her.


    Watts gave her an encouraging look, his eyes warm and steady. "You''re a special case-they''re making an exception, letting you join the team before your background check''s finished. Things might be a little stricter, but don''t worry-just follow the process."


    Elodie was the only one allowed to start work before her government clearance


    came through—a rare honor earned by sheer merit.


    She nodded her thanks and followed the staff member to the office.


    Inside, she found several unfamiliar faces.


    "Ms. Thorne, is that correct?" One of them, a man with a serious expression, addressed her.


    Elodie nodded. "And you are...?"


    "We''re from the special personnel department, here to review your personal Information. The


    background check materials you


    submitted two weeks ago ha


    some omissions and inuracies. We''ll need to update them."


    Elodie was genuinely surprised-she thought she''d been meticulous.


    "Inurate? Missing information?"


    The man nodded. "Your marital status and spouse information are incorrect."