Stein''s eyes were gentle and calm. "Don''t put anyone on a pedestal, Vicky. I''ll be fine."


    Victoria couldn''t share Stein''s ease-she knew exactly what McNeil was capable


    of.


    Her hands trembled around her teacup, tears falling onto her skin, clear and bright.


    "Is this because of the V&S Group? Are we dragging you into this?"


    If she''d known, she would never have convinced her brother to award the defense contract to theirpany.


    "It''s not your fault. This is an internal issue."


    Stein''s answer was casual, but Victoria only felt the weight in her chest increase.


    "Has Osborne back too?"


    He nodded. "Yeah..."


    Then Stein fell silent.


    Both of them sat quietly, the hush stretching between them. Atst, Stein broke it.


    "Since you''re here, why not rx for a few days? I''ll show you around."


    "Stein, you know I''m not here for a vacation. Tomorrow I''m nning to see Osborn."


    He nodded in understanding. "Alright."


    That evening, several people arrived at Stein''s house.


    All of them wore business attire, each with a grave expression.


    Stein asked the housekeeper to take Jimmy out to y.


    Victoria stayed inside, just one room away from Stein''s study.


    "Mr. Campbell, the only way out is topletely cut ties with V&S Group. If this blows up, there''ll be a lot more people dragged down."


    The atmosphere in Stein''s study was heavy.


    "The rk family has been too involved. If the listed owner wasn''t his son, this wouldn''t havended at your door," another official added.


    "You should have known, on that trip to Echo City, that the contract was always meant for Vertex Dynamics. That was decided from the top, and their connections run just as deep as ours.


    If this turns into a head-on collision, I''m not sure we''lle out on top-especially with Osborn''s grandfather involved."


    Osborn''s grandfather had been a force to be reckoned with in his youth.


    Back in the day, both sides of thew paid him respect. He''d done more than his share of ruthless, unspeakable things.


    He survived thanks to extensive underworld connections and, in the end, built a powerful alliance. After he "retired" from the criminal world and went legit, the rk family managed to hang on, keeping their hands just clean enough to survive to this day.


    "If it weren''t for a certain someone refusing to let this go, things wouldn''t have spiraled so far. There''s still a way out."


    They all knew that "someone" was McNeil.


    Stein lit a cigarette. "I''ve still got a few days."


    The men exchanged looks.


    "What are you nning, Mr. Campbell?"


    Did he intend to fight this out to the end?


    What on earth was so special about a small techpany that Mr. Campbell would risk everything to protect it?


    "Defense contractors are about national security. I value capability and innovation, not backroom deals. The new drone V&S Group developed really could strengthen our country''s defenses.


    I''m not taking sides here. If McNeil thinks his connections at the top are enough to sway military decisions, let him try."


    Stein exhaled a slow curl of smoke. "A businessman trying to shake a country- how''s that different from suicide?"


    Seeing they couldn''t change Stein''s mind, the officials had no choice but to leave in frustration.


    Victoria couldn''t make out what they were discussing; she only noticed how much heavier their faces looked when they came out.


    The light in Stein''s study stayed on all night, and Victoria hardly slept at all.


    At nine that evening, Ailie called.


    "Mr. Garcia says there''s a new project in the Investment Department and I have to go back right away. Are you sure you didn''t pull some strings? Is that why he reinstated me?"


    Ailie was sharp as ever-and worried Victoria might have cut some humiliating backroom deal with McNeil, or worse, been threatened.


    If so, all her loyalty would have been for nothing.


    "No. I''m not in Echo City right now, so I wouldn''t even know what''s going on there.


    I told you before, don''t overthink it. Mr. Garcia probably had his own reasons."


    Ailie was surprised. "You''re not in Echo City? Then where are you? You really


    didn''t go to McNeil for me?"


    She still wasn''t convinced.


    But Victoria had no reason to lie.


    "No..."


    Victoria decided to be blunt.


    "To him, you''re nothing. He has no reason to hold a grudge, and even less reason


    to fire you just because you insulted Violet."


    II


    "1


    Ailie was struck speechless, but somehow felt relieved.


    Her voice was noticeably lighter as they kept chatting.


    "That does make sense. I mean, why would a CEO care about a regr


    department manager like me? He''d look petty."


    Victoria reassured her, chatting for a while longer. She didn''t mention being in


    Echo City, only that she was away on business.


    Before long, Ailie started nodding off. They said goodnight and hung up.


    Despite her worries, Victoria drifted into a restless sleep, waking with a start the next morning to find Stein gone.


    She hurriedly dressed and rushed downstairs. The staff were busy preparing her breakfast, and greeted her politely as she entered: "Good morning, Ms. Turner." "Where''s Mr. Campbell?"


    Her heart pounded with anxiety-where had Stein gone?


    The housekeeper looked at her in surprise. "Mr. Campbell took Master Jimmy to school first thing this morning. He saw that you were still resting and told us not to disturb you.


    He left a car and driver for you at the door. If you need to go anywhere, just let the driver know and he''ll take you."