Victoria was surprised to see Curtis show up in person; she couldn''t imagine what could be so urgent.


    Ailie, ever the intuitive one, immediately caught on.


    "I''ll leave you two to talk business," she said, already gathering her things.


    But Curtis, looking a little out of sorts, waved her off. He knew all too well that Victoria and Ailie were close, so there was no need for her to excuse herself.


    "It''s nothing confidential. You should stay and hear this too," he said.


    With that, Ailie settled back into her seat, no longer feeling like a third wheel.


    Victoria waited patiently for Curtis to continue. He stared at her for a long moment before finally speaking, his reluctance obvious.


    "I got a call from Mr. Langford today. The military''s agreed to sign the drone project contract with The Langford Group, but they can''t make it out here to Starfall City. Mr. Langford has to go to them in Evermore City, and Quantum Core Technologies will be taking the lead on this."


    Curtis rambled on, skirting around the real issue. Victoria listened quietly, waiting for the point.


    "Mr. Langford wants you to go with him. But honestly, you don''t have to. If you''re notfortable, just say the word and I''ll call him back right now."


    Curtis was clearly testing her boundaries. He wanted her to be the kind of woman who knew where to draw the line, and he hoped she''d refuse the invitation to his face.


    If Victoria didn''t want to go, Curtis coulde up with a thousand reasons to turn McNeil down.


    "What? McNeil wants Victoria to go? That can''t be good just the two of them, it sounds fishy to me," Ailie blurted out, saying exactly what Curtis had been thinking but didn''t dare say aloud.


    Curtis genuinely cared about Victoria; he didn''t want her to get hurt. At least when rumors about him and Victoria had made the rounds, he''d never done anything inappropriate. He trusted that people with sense wouldn''t buy into the gossip. McNeil, on the other hand, was a different story altogether.


    Ailie turned to Victoria. "So, Ms. Turner, what do you say?"


    Victoria hadn''t expected McNeil to actually pull it off-he''d managed tond the military contract, and even Stein had agreed to it.


    "I think it''s a good opportunity. At least Quantum Core Technologies gets to handle the project. With this coboration, our reputation in the industry is sure to rise," she replied, making it clear she was willing to go for thepany''s sake.


    Curtis''s reluctance was written all over his face.


    "You don''t have to work yourself to the bone for thepany. Even without this deal, Quantum Core Technologies isn''t going under. I don''t want you to sacrifice your ownfort, and I''d never use you as some bargaining chip," he said earnestly, every word heartfelt.


    Victoria was genuinely taken aback. Was McNeil really that unpopr now? She remembered how his friends used to support him-when had they started treating him like some kind of scoundrel?


    "Mr. Garcia, I think you''re overthinking this. Mr. Langford just wants me there to help negotiate with Mr. Campbell. After all, I know the business inside out, and I''ve learned a lot from Paul recently. When their engineers start firing off questions, I''m the only one who can answer them."


    Her reasoned exnation left Curtis looking a bit sheepish, as if he''d let his personal feelings cloud his judgment. It was clear that only he and Ailie were letting emotion get in the way of logic-Victoria herself was focused on the bigger picture and understood why Curtis was worried about her traveling with McNeil.


    Especially after the extravagant gift McNeil had given her yesterday—it would be hard for anyone not to think he was interested in her.


    But Victoria was long past being moved by McNeil''s gestures.


    "So you''ve decided to go?" Curtis asked, still uneasy. Even if everything Victoria said made sense, he just couldn''t shake his difort.


    Ailie jumped in, "Mr. Garcia, how about this: Evermore City is far away, and honestly, I''d feel better if Ms. Turner didn''t go alone. Why don''t I go with her this time?"


    Curtis looked at her and realized it wasn''t a bad idea. With Ailie tagging along, McNeil would have no chance to pull anything.


    Victoria smiled, touched by the gesture. "Alright, it''s settled then. Ailie and I will travel with Mr. Langford to Evermore City for the business trip. I''ll let Mr. Langford know to book an extra ticket."


    Curtis left Victoria''s office in a much better mood. Even when he called McNeil, he sounded light and unburdened.


    "We''re all set on our end. Ms. Turner will be joining you for the trip."


    McNeil smirked-he''d expected as much.


    Whether or not there was anything between Stein and Victoria, he could always find outter. But when he went to see Stein in Evermore City, he was determined to bring Victoria along, to make it clear that she was with him, and that she''d never choose anyone else.


    "There''s just one thing-we''ll be sending one more person: Ms. Ailie from the Investment Department."


    The moment McNeil heard Ailie''s name, he felt a headacheing on. His voice turned cold.


    "Why is sheing? We''re going there to work, not on a sightseeing tour." He couldn''t stand Ailie''s sharp tongue.


    "Ms. Turner agreed to it, and I think it''s the right call. When ites to hotels, Mr. Langford will have his own room, and Ailie can room with VP Turner. That way, I can rest easy."


    "Hmph..."


    McNeil hung up the phone without another word.


    A few secondster, Curtis received a text from him: "Have Ailie send over her ID number and phone. We need to book the flights and hotel."