By the time Lucinda arrived, she already had a good grasp of the situation.


    Andrea had filled her in.


    Jarrod was injured.


    Elodie had asked her toe to the board meeting-to steady the ship, and, at a critical moment, to show support and help sway key votes.


    Even now, Lucinda was deeply worried about Jarrod, but Elodie had called her just minutes ago. "I need you to cooperate," Elodie had said. "Let me handle this."


    Lucinda decided to trust Elodie, just this once.


    When Elinor tried to provoke her, Lucinda swept her gaze over, cool and sharp. "Elinor, I know you don''t get many chances to attend meetings at headquarters, but you ought to show some restraint. There''s no need for you to meddle inpany business."


    Elinor''s smirk faltered.


    "So why isn''t Jarrod here? If he can''t handle something like this, maybe it''s time he stepped aside for someone more capable," Elinor pressed.


    "If he were trulypetent, wouldn''t the Italian division have made the Fortune list by now? Or is it that you and he simply don''t want it?" The words, delivered in Elodie''s calm, almost detached voice as she stepped out of the back elevator, cut deeper than they should have.


    Elinor''s expression soured; she bristled, "Elodie, you should watch your tone when speaking to your elders."


    Lucinda shot her a frosty look. "If all you want to hear are pleasantries, I''m not going to waste my breath."


    Elinor''s face turned cold.


    She''d always known Lucinda was a formidable opponent. The heiress had never liked her, and they''d never gotten along. But to be snubbed like this in front of Elodie-the younger generation-stung more than she cared to admit.


    Elinor managed a brittle smile. "No matter. My family''s celebrating good ews today, so I''ll let it slide."


    Elodie ignored herpletely and turned to Lucinda. "Come inside with me, please."


    At the very least, with Lucinda in the room, the others couldn''t use Mrs. Silverstein of meddling where she didn''t belong. Lucinda was, after all, a shareholder.


    Lucinda nced at Elodie''s IV drip and the cast on her left arm.


    Her brow furrowed. "Are you alright?"


    Elodie gave a soft, almost dismissive reply. "I''m fine."


    Lucinda studied her a moment longer, lips pressed tight, then gave a slight nod.


    When they stepped into the boardroom, it was clear which way the wind was blowing.


    Sprague sat at the end of the table, wearing a calm, faint smile as if he already had things under control.


    He hesitated, just briefly, when he saw Elodie enter with Lucinda.


    But Elodie wasn''t technically part of thepany-what did it matter if she was there?


    Lucinda''s arrival, on the other hand, caused a stir Several board members exchanged nces, and one of them finally spoke up, looking from Sprague to Carney. "I hear Mr. Silverstein is ill? Unable to lead the meeting? If Jarrod can''t handle this, and the project slips through our fingers, the losses would be huge. Sprague''s just returned-perhaps he''s the right man to take charge now."


    Lucinda gave a cold, mirthlessugh. "If Jarrod can''t handle it, what exactly do


    you think the rest of you are capable of?"


    Sprague didn''t seem bothered by the


    open mockery. "I do have some connections. I can start negotiations immediately and guarantee results for the uing development project. You don''t need to worry."


    "Exactly. We''re running out of time-the longer we dy, the greater the risk. We


    all understand that," another board member agreed.


    "Sprague''s stepping up-he''s practically a hero," someone else chimed in.


    Elodie steadied herself, still looking pale but with an unmistakable edge of authority in her voice. "Who decided my brother is the only one with authority here?"


    Her words cut through the room like a knife.


    Sprague and Carney both turned, frowning.


    Lucinda paused, surprised.


    The board members murmured among themselves before one of them addressed her directly, "Ms. Thorne, you may be a scientist, but this is a major business matter. We can''t afford any mistakes. If Jarrod can''t step in, everyone at this table has something at stake. If no one steps up, who''s going to take responsibility for any future losses?"


    Elodie scanned the vast boardroom, her voice calm but resolute. "I will."