31 A Calcted Slight
ra stiffened as Vivienne approached them, golden dress gleaming under the venue’s lights. The false sweetness in her half-sister’s voice made her skin crawl.
“I just wanted to say how nice it was to see you again after all this time,” Vivienne said to Julian,pletely ignoring ra’s presence.
Julian’s posture shifted subtly, protective and alert. “Is there something you needed,
Ms. Dubois?”
Vivienne’s smile dimmed slightly. “Actually, I wanted to discuss my position at
Croft Vision.” Her gaze darted briefly to ra, then back to Julian. “Perhaps somewhere more private?”
“There’s nothing to discuss that can’t be said here,” Julian replied coolly.
Vivienne’s perfectly manicured hand tightened around her clutch. “I assumed with yourpany’s recent growth, you’d want to retain talent with my qualifications.”
Julian raised an eyebrow. “Your contract was terminated two weeks ago. The notification was sent to your office.”
“Yes, but surely that was before-” Vivienne’s polite facade cracked slightly as she gestured toward ra. “Before certain personal connections became apparent.”
The implication was clear. Vivienne thought ra had influenced Julian to fire her.
Julian stepped forward, his usually friendly face hardening. “Ms. Dubois, let me be perfectly clear. Your termination had nothing to do with ra. You were released because your work was substandard and your attitude problematic.”
ra fought to keep her expression neutral, though inwardly she was stunned by Julian’s directness. She’d had no idea Vivienne had worked for CroftVision, much less that she’d been fired. (4)
Vivienne’s smile disappearedpletely. “I see,” she said, voice brittle. “So that’s how it is.”
01:13
31 A Calcted Slight
“That’s exactly how it is, Julian confirmed without apology.
Vivienne turned her attention to ra for the first time, eyes cold with contempt. “How convenient that your old friend controls hiring decisions at a growing tech firm.” Sheughed softly. “Did you ask him to fire me, or was that his idea?”
“I had no idea you worked there,” ra replied honestly. “But Julian doesn’t make business decisions based on personal favors.”,
“Of course not, Vivienne drawled, disbelief evident. “Just like I’m sure your sudden resurrection as some tech genius has nothing to do with your impending divorce from Damien.”
Julian stepped between them. “That’s enough. Your problem is with me, not ra.”
“My problem,” Vivienne said, her voice dangerously soft, “is that suddenly everyone’s acting like she’s some brilliant innovator, when for seven years she’s been nothing but Damien’s decorative housewife.”
ra felt the sting of those words, but Julian didn’t miss a beat.
“ra Vance,” he said loudly enough for nearby guests to hear, “co-founded YodaVision with me and developed LinguaFlex, which your own academic work cited three times.” He smiled tightly. “I checked.”
Vivienne’s cheeks flushed with anger, but herposure held. “How thorough of you.”
“CroftVision doesn’t need employees who can’t recognize true expertise when it’s standing right in front of them,” Julian said. He turned slightly. “Come on, ra. Our car should be waiting”
Vivienne’sugh stopped them. “This doesn’t matter, you know. Croft Vision is nothingpared to what the Thorne family controls.” Her smile returned, vindictive and sharp. “You’ve made an enemy you can’t afford, Julian.”
Julian appeared supremely unconcerned. “I’ll take my chances.”
He guided ra toward the exit, but a prickling sensation on the back of her neck made her nce across the lobby. There, standing beside a massive floral arrangement, was Damien. His dark gaze fixed on the confrontation, expression
01:13
<
31 A Calcted Slight
unreadable. Beside him stood Beck, his head of security, and Lucas Sterling, Vivienne’s cousin.
None of them moved to intervene, just watched the scene unfold like disinterested observers at a mildly entertaining show.
Damien’s eyes met hers briefly. No recognition flickered there, no hint that they’d shared seven years of marriage. He might as well have been looking at a stranger. “Don’t let them get to you,” Julian murmured as they continued walking.
“I’m fine,” ra lied, her heart hammering against her ribs.
They had almost reached the door when a tall man with friendly eyes intercepted them.
“Ms. Vance? I’m Bryson West, from Archer Technologies.” He extended his hand. “I overheard your discussion with Professor Leonard earlier. Your approach to the semantic processing issue was brilliant.”
ra shook his hand, grateful for the distraction. “Thank you. It’s just one potential solution.”
“A solution no one else has considered,” Bryson replied. “We’ve been struggling with simr issues at Archer. I’d love to discuss your perspective sometime.”
Julian looked pleased. “ra’s schedule is filling up quickly, but I’m sure she could find
time.”
“I’ll have my assistant contact you,” ra offered, surprised by how natural the words felt. Seven years ago, she’d had assistants coordinating her professional schedule. Now she was reiming that part of herself.
Bryson nodded enthusiastically. “Perfect. I look forward to it.”
After exchanging business cards, they finally made it outside. The valet brought Julian’s car around, and they climbed in, ra exhaling deeply once the doors closed.
“You okay?” Julian asked as they pulled away from the venue,
“Yes,” ra said, then reconsidered. “No, I didn’t know Vivienne worked for
01:13
31 A Calcted Slight
Croft Vision.”
Julian focused on the road. “She was hired about six months ago as a financial consultant. Her work was mediocre, and she spent more timeworking than actually delivering results.”
“And you fired her before I came back to YodaVision?”
“Two weeks before,” Julian confirmed. “I didn’t mention it because it wasn’t relevant.”
ra rubbed her temples. “She thinks I orchestrated it.”
“Let her think what she wants. She’d just find another reason to resent you anyway.”
They drove in silence for a few minutes before ra spoke again. “Did you see Damien watching us?”
Julian’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I saw him.”
“He looked right through me,” ra said quietly. “Like I was nobody to him.”
Julian nced at her with concern. “That’s his loss, not yours.”
Before ra could respond, her phone buzzed with a text. She expected it to be from Chloe, asking how the event had gone. Instead, it was from an unknown number.
The message contained just two words: “Watch yourself.”.
ra stared at the screen, a chill running down her spine.
“What is it?” Julian asked, noticing her expression.
She showed him the message. “Anonymous.”
Julian frowned, “Block the number. It’s probably just someone being petty after tonight’s events.”
The most likely culprit was Vivienne, but something about the timing unsettled ra. She’d seen Lucas Sterling smirking at her as they left, his eyes holding the same contempt Vivienne’s had. Maybe the warning came from him.
“Julian,” she said slowly, “what do you know about Lucas Sterling?”
01:13
<
31 A Calcted Slight
Julian’s expression darkened. “Vivienne’s cousin. Old money, bad temperament. Why?”
*He was watching us with Damien. The way he looked at me…” She shivered. “Like this
wasn’t over.”
Julian sighed. “Sterling Investments has partnered with Thorne Industries on several projects. Lucas probably sees himself as defending family honor or some outdated
nonsensé.
“And what about the host tonight? Joshua something?”
“Joshua Baumond. From one of Baumond’s founding families. Why?”
“Just curious about the connections.” ra gazed out the window at the passing city lights. “Vivienne seems to have powerful friends.”
Julian was quiet for a moment. “Not as powerful as she thinks.” He slowed the car at a red light. “Joshua mentioned something interesting tonight. Did you know Vivienne’s family is from Letville?”
ra turned to him in surprise. “The manufacturing town? I thought she grew up in Baumond.”
“Her father moved their business headquarters here when she was in high school,” Julian exined. “But they’re originally from Letville. Dubois Electronics is sessful locally, but nothingpared to thepanies run by families like the Thornes or Sterlings.”
The light changed, and Julian elerated. “Joshua said her father’s been trying to break into Baumond’s elite business circles for years without much sess. Until Vivienne got close to Damien.”
ra processed this new information. “So Vivienne’s not just after Damien for personal
reasons.”
“I doubt there’s anything personal about it,” Julian replied. “From what I’ve seen, it’s all about status for her.”
The irony wasn’t lost on ra. She’d married Damien because she genuinely loved him, while Vivienne, whom Damien seemed to adore, might only be using him for social
01:13
577
31 A Calcted Slight
advancement.
As they pulled up to her apartment building, ra felt a strange mix of vindication and sadness. None of this changed her situation – her marriage was still ending, her daughter still preferred Vivienne – but it offered a new perspective on her half-sister’s motivations.
“Thank you for tonight,” she told Julian as the car stopped. “For everything”
Julian smiled. “You’re the one who impressed everyone with your brilliant mind. I just provided the venue.”
ra returned his smile, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. “Still, having someone in my corner means a lot.
“Get some rest,” Julian said. “Tomorrow’s going to be busy. Three investors asked for meetings after talking to you tonight.”
As ra entered her apartment building, phone clutched tightly in her hand with the anonymous message still disyed, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d won a small battle tonight but that a muchrger war was just beginning.
Lucas Sterling’s smirk and Damien’s cold, disinterested gaze haunted her thoughts. Whatever Vivienne’s true motives might be, she clearly had powerful allies – and now ra had publicly challenged her.
The game was changing, and ra wasn’t sure she was ready for what came next.
01:14