The room fell instantly silent.
Someone even stifled augh, as if the whole thing was too ridiculous to take seriously.
Sprague arched a brow. "Elodie, what exactly are you offering? How do you n to handle this? I understand where you''reing from, but don''t worry no one''s trying to undermine Jarrod. I''m just heading to headquarters to sort this out, and we''re only here to discuss my appointment."
Elodie shot him a sidelong nce. "And what do you think my job is? Who do you imagine I deal with on a daily basis?"
The moment her wordsnded, Sprague''s expression faltered.
Even Lucinda, everposed, gave Elodie a subtle, sidelong nce.
Tall but slender, Elodie looked as though a strong breeze might carry her away. Yet, standing before this gathering of seasoned corporate sharks, her face betrayed not a hint of fear.
"I can promise you all, right here and now, that any signatures or paperwork we need-I''ll handle it directly with the senior board. My connections are exactly what you need. I''ve already spoken with Colonel Whitaker from the Defense Department, and my mentor, Mr. Sterling. That''s more than enough to get us a seat at the table. I control the negotiations-how we talk, who we talk with. So ask yourselves: are you questioning me, or the weight of the people backing me?"
Her tone was calm, steady-never rising, never rushed.
But her words settled deep, impossible to ignore.
Everyone here had spent years in this field; they all knew exactly what it meant for Elodie to invoke those two names.
With contacts like that, one call could open any door.
And Elodie was clearly being groomed as Charlie Sterling''s sessor.
Sooner orter, she''d be walking that path herself.
The room hung in a tense deadlock.
Sprague''s face darkened. He''d always known Elodie was a scientist-but he hadn''t realized how far her reach extended.
Especially not with Colonel Whitaker.
As for Sterling, sure, he had talented protégés-but how many would he actually
use his own influence to help, especially over private business?
Elodie was risking everything by calling in favors like these.
"Elodie, I get why you''re saying this now-it''s a stopgap, and I can respect that. But staffing decisions aren''t really yours to make."
edat
Elodie looked at him coolly. "Do you really think this can be solved just by talking? If you don''t trust me, I''ll put it in writing. If I dy or harm The Silverstein Group in any way, I''ll take full responsibility-including paying all damages."
With that, she slid a folder onto the table. "Here''s the Nexus Analytics equity agreement. If I fail, you can have thepany."
A stunned hush fell over the room.
Everyone knew what Nexus Analytics was worth.
A multi-billion dor firm.
Elodie was putting everything on the line.
Only now did Sprague rise to his feet, his expression turning icy. "Isn''t this a bit much?"
at
l.ne
He''d hoped to buy some time, to have Watts stall the paperwork so he could swoop in, close the deal headquarters, and snatch the lucrative project away from Jafrod. He hadn''t expected Elodie to be watching so closely-or to respond so quickly, wielding both her connections and the nuclear option of Nexus Analytics.
Each move was a game-changer.
Elodie''s pale face remainedposed, utterly unshaken. “The odds are in my
favor. I''m willing to gamble. What are you willing to risk?"
Sprague''s face twisted with frustration.
Even Carney shifted in his seat, shooting a cold look across the table.
Elodie gave them no time to
regroup. "Once you pick a side, there''s no turning back. Jarrod isn''t
alone-he has the entire Howard family behind him, and mywork reaches far beyond that. Make the wrong call, and it won''t just be a bad business deal-it''ll be more than any of you can afford to pay. Think it through."
Her voice was mild, but the authority behind it was undeniable.
She''did everything out-no more games.
Her warning hit home, cooling the ambitions of those who''d been on the verge of taking a risk.
Elodie knew exactly what Sprague had been nning.