Violet''s cheeks were flushed with anger.


    "What do you mean they''re in a meeting? Victoria and Mr. Langford? Are you kidding me?"


    What business could he possibly have with Victoria?


    Fuming, Violet could barely contain herself. George, helpless in the face of her fury, did his best to cate her.


    "Ms. Marchand, would you like me to call Mr. Langford out?"


    He didn''t have the nerve to disturb McNeil, but with Violet standing right there, he couldn''t just ignore her either.


    Steeling himself, George rapped on the ss door outside Paul''s temporary office. Through the pane, he could see Paul pointing something out to Victoria, while Mr. Langford leaned against the desk, watching intently, not moving an inch.


    At the sound of the knock, Paul and Victoria barely looked up, still focused on the code in front of them. McNeil, on the other hand, raised his head.


    "Mr. Langford, Ms. Marchand is here. She''d like to see you."


    McNeil frowned. "Tell her I''m busy. No time."


    George felt a wave of dread wash over him.


    But, duty bound, he slipped out of the tech department, closing the door behind him.


    Violet fixed him with a cold stare. "Where''s Mr. Langford?"


    George forced a nervousugh. "Mr. Langford says he''s busy, no time right now. Ms. Marchand, perhaps you-"


    Before he could finish, Violet spun on her heel and stalked off toward her own office.


    George wiped the sweat from his brow, baffled by Ms. Marchand''s sudden burst of emotion. She was usually the picture of professionalism-what had gotten into her today?


    It couldn''t really be about Mr. Langford and Victoria working together, could it? Paul was right there too, so what was there to be jealous about? This wasn''t like Ms. Marchand at all.


    Still, Violet''s business was hardly his to judge. The hour ticked by quickly.


    McNeil watched the clock, waiting for the two of them to finish.


    As Paul tapped in the final character and hit enter, McNeil stepped forward. "Alright, that''s enough for today."


    Paul looked a little put out; the memory of being forced to drink still fresh in his mind, especially with his cousin''s brooding, slightly menacing expression hovering over him. He managed a weak smile.


    "Alright, I''ll wait for your word tomorrow. Victoria, did you pick up everything I showed you today?"


    Victoria opened her mouth to reply, but McNeil moved between them, blocking Paul''s gaze entirely.


    "It doesn''t matter if she did or didn''t. We''re done here. You can go."


    Paul gave an awkward chuckle. "Alright."


    He left without another word. McNeil turned to Victoria. "Come home for lunch. I''ll bring Gwyn back too. You''ll take her to school this afternoon."


    Victoria could only stare.


    He was micromanaging her every minute. At least Yasmine had replied these past two days, and without The Langford Group breathing down their necks to acquire V&S Group, the dy seemed worth it. She''d just have to stall for time and find another way out.


    Back in her office, Violet forced herself to calm down, sitting motionless at her desk until her assistant knocked.


    "Ms. Marchand?"


    The assistant had noticed all day that Ms. Marchand seemed unusually tense.


    Still, she dutifully reported, "Mr. Langford has left."


    Violet resisted the urge to sweep everything off her desk, replying coolly, "Noted. You may go."


    Once the door closed, Violet''s expression grew even darker.


    She dialed McNeil''s number again, and this time, he picked up.


    "You came to the office today?"


    McNeil was just starting his car, heading back to Vertex Dynamics. His voice was low. "Yeah."


    Violet bit her lip. "What''s going on with the V&S Group acquisition? I saw you earlier and wanted to ask, but you seemed busy. Victoria was there too. What were you two working on?"


    She waited. McNeil rolled up the window and slowly turned the steering wheel. “Business matters. We''ll discuss V&S Groupter.”