When McNeil heard she wanted to change thepany''s name, his brow furrowed. It was clear he didn''t agree.


    One Victoria was already enough of a headache; now Violet was making her own suggestions, and he was still weighing them.


    "V&S Group. Doesn''t that sound a little odd to you?" Violet leaned forward, her tone probing. "The S-doesn''t that stand for Stein Campbell? You bought thepany from Victoria, right? Remember, we lost that government contract to V&S Group. It''s obvious Stein has a stake in it. Thepany name could very well be a mashup of their names. What do you think, McNeil?"


    McNeil hadn''t really paid much attention to the details before. But as Violetid it all out, he frowned, thinking it through.


    Victoria had gone into business with someone else, and that S in V&S Group could very well stand for Stein. Which meant this was theirpany, the two of them. The so-called CEO was probably just a figurehead.


    A bitter, mocking smile tugged at McNeil''s lips. Really?


    Victoria kept insisting Stein was just like an older brother to her. Did she really think he was that gullible?


    "Thepany''s yours now," McNeil said finally. "If you want to change the name, we''ll take care of the paperwork. Go ahead."


    He sank heavily into the leather couch in his office, feeling utterly drained.


    Stein wasn''t even Victoria''s family by blood.


    And as for the im that there was nothing between them-McNeil didn''t believe that for a second.


    Violet, meanwhile, was practically glowing with satisfaction. Once V&S Group was officially renamed V&M Group, everyone would know thepany belonged to her and McNeil together.


    From then on, wherever V&M Group went,nding new projects would be so much easier.


    It was now a subsidiary of The Langford Group, but she had full control over it.


    Violet had already done her homework. She knew McNeil had gone to Quantum Core Technologies and sent Victoria a massive bouquet of roses and an exquisite set of emerald jewelry.


    But so what? Could that possibly measure up to the profits of an entirepany? As CEO, Violet was pocketing millions a year with ease.


    She saw through McNeil''s game: making a show of favoring Victoria, so when Violet left Quantum Core Technologies, it would look perfectly justified.


    On the surface, it seemed McNeil was simply valuing top talent. Of course, Curtis Garcia and the rest of the team would be upset to see her go.


    Who wouldn''t be, losing their top moneymaker? Their annual revenue would take a serious hit. Anyone would be unhappy about that.


    Violet figured McNeil was putting on a performance for everyone else, making it clear that The Langford Group still valued Quantum Core Technologies. Even though she was leaving, Victoria was being promoted to Vice President with their full support.


    And the main reason McNeil had visited Quantum Core Technologies was to deliver a golden contract-a symbol of the unwavering partnership between their twopanies.


    McNeil had handed her an entirepany to run. Why should she care about a few flowers and some jewelry he gave to someone else?


    Victoria had always been so cheap. A few hundred roses and a piece of jewelry, and she was willing to work herself to the bone for the Langford family? What Violet had gained was so much more than that.


    She feltpletely at ease now. Maybe, as the outgoing VP, she ought to send Victoria a grand gift too, congratting her new position.


    And just to rub it in, she could let Victoria know that V&S Group had be V&M Group. She''d invite her to drop by thepany for some team-building whenever she had the time.


    With that, all of Violet''s irritation melted away.


    McNeil''s mood, already tangled, grew even more unsettled after Violet''s call.


    He forced himself to focus on work when the phone rang-this time from his contact in the capital.


    "Mr. Langford, there''s news from Echo City. Stein is willing to cooperate with us, but he''s tied up with official duties and can''te to Starfall City himself. He wants us to send someone over to sign the contract."


    "Is that so?"


    The storm clouding McNeil''s face instantly cleared. Nothing could have made him happier than this news.


    There was a quiet triumph in his eyes.


    "Let them know I''ll being personally."


    He considered for a moment, then immediately called Curtis.


    "I''m heading to Evermore City tomorrow. The government''s drone project has been awarded to The Langford Group, but the tech side has always been handled by yourpany, Quantum Core Technologies. So I''d like someone from your team toe with me."


    Curtis''s heart skipped a beat. Instinct told him McNeil wanted Victoria, but he couldn''t quite believe it.


    Surely not-sending just the two of them together? McNeil was CEO of The Langford Group and had a girlfriend. He wouldn''t stoop that low.


    But he was wrong. McNeil wanted Victoria.


    "Have your VP, Turner, get ready. I''ll arrange the tickets. Hotel, travel, and all expenses will be covered by me. She just needs to bring one assistant."


    Curtis could hardly breathe. McNeil was really being this tant. Yesterday''s flowers and emeralds for Victoria were inappropriate enough; now he was brazenly requesting her as well.


    Curtis now had every reason to suspect McNeil was using Victoria''s promotion as an excuse to mix business with his own private agenda.


    He forced a stiff smile.


    "This is a big deal, McNeil. If you want Victoria to handle it, where does that leave me as CEO? Since we''re negotiating with the Defense Department, obviously I should be apanying you myself."