The call ended with a sharp click. At the front desk, the two receptionists


    exchanged nces, the one who had just answered rolling her eyes so hard they nearly disappeared into her head.


    "What was that about?" her coworker asked, curiosity piqued.


    "Oh, you''ll love this-some clueless girl just called, insisting she''s Mr. Langford''s girlfriend. But get this—she doesn''t even have his number! Can you believe it?"


    The other receptionist snorted. "That can''t be right. Wasn''t Mr. Langford''s girlfriend the one who checked in with himst night?"


    "Exactly! Long legs, wless skin, gorgeous face. I saw theme in-he was absolutely doting on her, practically couldn''t take his eyes off the woman. And you know what? She barely gave him the time of day."


    "Yeah, she had him wrapped around her little finger. There''s no way he has another girlfriend."


    The first receptionist smirked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh,e on, are you really surprised? Mr. Langford is rich, handsome, the whole package. Women throw themselves at men like him every day. If he walked in solo, I wouldn''t mind if he noticed me." She giggled, tossing her hair.


    "My guess is, some desperate girl from out of town is freaking out because she can''t get in touch with him. With all that money, a guy like Mr. Langford probably has a home in every city. No way he''s settling for just one woman."


    As she spoke, she pulled out herpact, carefully touching up her eyebrows with practiced precision. "Some women get it in their heads that a few nights with a man like that make them special. Please. Everyone''s chasing a ticket to the high life these days, but they don''t bother looking in the mirror first."


    They giggled, their scornfulughter aimed at Violet-the woman who had just called in desperation.


    Violet hadn''t slept all night. She waited anxiously until dawn, but still couldn''t reach McNeil. With a sigh of frustration, she dialed Victoria''s number instead.


    Half-asleep, Victoria barely registered who was calling before answering. An arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back into a warm embrace.


    "Who are you calling at this hour?" McNeil''s voice was husky with sleep. Victoria couldn''t make out who was on the other end as McNeil tipped her chin up, guiding her face toward his.


    Before she could react, McNeil''s lips captured hers in a sudden, lingering kiss. Her phone, already unlocked and on the call, slipped from her fingers as McNeil, perhaps deliberately, kept her from answering, deepening the kiss.


    After several breathless minutes, Victoria finally summoned the strength to push him away.


    "McNeil, are you crazy? I''m on the phone!" she snapped, exasperated.


    He just smirked. "Who''s calling? Is it Stein, or some other guy? Osborn''s in Evermore City too, isn''t he? Has he been in touch?"


    Victoria stared at him, dumbfounded. She''d never expected such childish jealousy from McNeil.


    "Yeah, that''s right," she retorted sarcastically. "I''m not going back with you. I''m going to settle down here, and once we''re divorced, I''ll find my next great love." McNeil leaned in, voice low and dangerous. "Victoria, care to repeat that?"


    Meanwhile, Violet listened helplessly as the couple''s bickering-so intimate, so familiar―filtered through her phone. Even first thing in the morning, their affection was on full disy, rubbing salt in her wounds.


    Her eyes burned red with fatigue and frustration, fingertips digging into her phone case until her new manicure nearly splintered.


    Victoria, that maniptive witch. Always a step ahead.


    Atst, freed from McNeil''s grip, Victoria brought the phone to her ear. "Hello? Who is this?"


    After leaving Quantum Core Technologies, Victoria had deleted Violet''s number, so she didn''t recognize the caller.


    Violet''s voice was sharp, demanding. "Where''s McNeil? Put him on."


    Victoria frowned, her patience gone. "Wrong number," she replied curtly, and hung


    up. Without hesitation, she blocked Violet''s number for good.


    McNeil, undeterred, pressed for answers. "Who was that?"


    "Your girlfriend," Victoria shot back. "Since she couldn''t get through to you, she tried me."


    She was no longer Violet''s subordinate and saw no reason to indulge her nonsense. McNeil, still reeling from the "girlfriend" remark, stared at her, his brow furrowed.


    "What girlfriend? Don''t talk nonsense," he said, searching her face for signs of a joke.


    He fixed her with a look, voice softening. "It''s still early. Maybe we should-" "No," Victoria cut him off, her tone brisk.


    His frustration was palpable. "It''s gettingte. I''d better hurry up, or we''ll run out of time."


    Victoria took the opportunity to slip away, heading for the bathroom to get ready. McNeil checked the time-they''d agreed to meet Stein at eight, and it was almost that now. He rose reluctantly, difort evident in his posture.


    Victoria ignored him, focusing on getting dressed and ready for the day. McNeil, still unsatisfied, trailed after her.


    Down in the hotel lobby, it was obvious to everyone that McNeil was in a foul mood.


    For days, Stein''s team and Victoria had been working around the clock. McNeil, for his part, stuck close to Victoria, helping wherever he could, until atst the deal was finalized. He and Stein signed the partnership agreement together.


    Beneath the g, McNeil and Stein shook hands in front of the photographer''s lens,memorating the signing. Victoria captured the moment on her phone as well.


    After five intense days, the agreement was finally done. Stein and McNeil exchanged a firm handshake, marking the end of negotiations atst.